“Let’s Walk: Valley City Sat Sept 12

Valley City (CSi) Let’s Walk Valley City, Saturday, September 12, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., plans to offer fun activities for all ages.  The event will introduce participants to the walking paths and new people in Valley City.

On Wednesday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, Sharon Buhr, a Licensed Dietician and Director of the Young People’s Healthy Heart Program at CHI Mercy Health in Valley City, said the Barnes “ON THE MOVE” Partnership enables the free event, and stems in part from receiving a $3000 grant from the Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota Rural “Official Sponsor of Recess” Program to sponsor the Let’s Walk Valley City event.

City-County Health District applied for the grant on behalf of the Barnes ON THE MOVE Partnership and Young People’s Healthy Heart Program at CHI Mercy Health will be managing the event.

The event on the north side of Jefferson Elementary or at Pioneer Park, will have games, activities, healthy snacks, prizes (including a Fit Bit) and free giveaways. Try yoga with Janice Berg from “Find the Balance” studio, taste delicious fruit and yogurt parfaits prepared by VCSU nursing students or draw with sidewalk chalk and blow bubbles with Circle of Friends preschool staff, and more.

A booth will feature Girl Scout registration, garden veggie samples to taste, ambulance tours, foster pets and much more

The event will take place on the paths that go around the one mile Jefferson School loop which includes Central Avenue, 12^th Street NE, 5^th Ave. NE and the brand new path on 9^th Street NE. It will include the stretch from the corner by Jefferson School on 12^th St. NE going west until 9^th Ave. NW then south on 9^th Ave until you reach Pioneer Park. The event will also take place on the quarter mile path that runs through Pioneer Park.

If participants walk the entire route they will be walking 2.36 miles.

Sign up at the registration booth at both locations and get a form. If stamped by at least 10 booth participants, you will be entered into a drawing for prizes donated by area businesses.

The purpose of the BCBSND Official Sponsor of Recess Grant Program is to serve and show benefit to rural North Dakotans and their health needs, and raise awareness for the need for all ages to engage in more daily, physical activity and overall wellness.

Individuals or organizations that would like to have a booth or for more information, may contact Sharon Buhr at 701-845-6456. As of Wednesday 30 booths have been signed up.

Director of Valley City Parks and Recreation Department, Tyler Jacobson says, “Our newly expanded multi use path system is great for transportation as well as exercise.”

He adds, walking, biking, running, jogging and skateboarding are all great ways to get out and enjoy the paths. Regular physical activity has been shown to reduce the risks of developing many types of chronic disease such as hypertension, stroke, diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis and many forms of cancer.