Take a stroll Wednesday in statewide ?Healthiest State Walk?

Healthy Henry County Communities encourages residents to join with thousands of other Iowans in a one-kilometer Healthiest State Walk on Wednesday, Oct. 3.

Local walkers will meet at the large TTT shelter house at Saunders Park between 12 and 1 p.m. Mayor Steve Brimhall, City Administrator Brent Schleisman, and HCHC CEO Robb Gardner will kick off the walk at noon.

State organizers hope to involve even more than the 291,000-plus Iowans who participated in the Healthiest State Initiative?s ?Start Somewhere? walk in 2011.

Locally over 135 people participated last year and Kelly Carr, Healthy Communities Coordinator hopes for an even bigger turnout.

?We hope that by having this walk over the lunch hour people are able to spend a short amount of their lunch break enjoying some physical exercise with their peers and participating in this state-wide event,? said Carr.

One kilometer is only about 7.5 city blocks, a 12-minute stroll for the average walker. Walkers can sign up for the event at www.iowahealthieststate.com and look for the Mt. Pleasant-Saunders Park walk.

In 2011, Governor Terry Branstad and Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds announced the plan to make Iowa the healthiest state in the nation within five years as measured by the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index.

In 2011, Iowa ranked 16th compared to all other states, up from the 19th position in 2010.

?The intent of the Healthiest State Walk is to encourage Iowans to take their own steps that will help us improve our state?s well-being rank,? Branstad said when announcing the 2012 walk date.

?The Healthiest State Initiative this year will continue to champion existing well-being programs with special emphasis on encouraging local walk groups, workplace well-being, consumption of fruits and vegetables, and smoking cessation? he continued. ?Progress in these areas will translate to a healthier Iowa and better quality of life for all its residents.?

The Healthiest State Initiative is a privately led, public effort that engages Iowans and their communities throughout the state.

It involves individuals, families, businesses, faith-based organizations, not-for-profits and the public sector in a broad-based, community-focused effort.

For more information, visit www.iowahealthieststate.com.

For questions about Mt. Pleasant?s walk contact Kelly Carr, Healthy Communities Coordinator at 319-385-6523.