walkersJamestown  (CSi)  The LET’S WALK VALLEY CITY event is coming soon! It’s a FREE event on Saturday, September 12 from 9 am to 1 pm. There will be fun for all ages – with games, activities, free food, giveaways and prizes. The event will introduce participants to the walking paths and new people in Valley City.

Join the fun and start at the registration tables at either Jefferson Elementary or at Pioneer Park. Some activities along the paths include yoga with Janice Berg from “Find the Balance” studio, sidewalk chalk with Circle of Friends preschool staff, Barnes County Ambulance tours, jumping rope with Sanford physician, Dr. Misty Anderson, shooting a hockey puck into a net with hockey club members, watching gymnastic demos by the Valley Twisters and much more.

Giveaways galore…including foldable Frisbees, jump ropes, lip balm, flying discs, stress balls, and insect repellent to name a few.

Tasty snacks will be available and will include fruit and yogurt parfaits and chocolate milk. Carly the Giant Carrot will be handing out baby carrots and Amy the Giant Apple will be giving out apples.

There will also be drawings for fantastic prizes! Each attendee will receive a passport with a map at the registration tables. As they visit each activity along the path, they will receive a sticker for their passport. Passports with 10 stickers will be eligible for prize drawings.

Prizes include a $100 pair of ASICS GT1000 tennis shoes donated by Bong’s Bootery, a FIT BIT donated by CHI Mercy Health, a boy’s bike donated by Handy Hardware, a girl’s bike donated by ON THE MOVE and a one month family Fitness Center pass from Valley City Park and Rec Dept.

“We invite everyone of all ages to come out on Valley City’s shared use paths to walk, bike, run, jog or skateboard on Saturday, Sept. 12! Exercise is like medicine…FREE medicine!” states Sharon Buhr, Barnes ON THE MOVE Partnership chair. 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.

The Barnes ON THE MOVE (OTM) Partnership is excited to announce they have received $3000 in grant funds from the Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota (BCBSND) Rural “Official Sponsor of Recess” Program to sponsor the Let’s Walk Valley City event.

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.

If any individual or organization would like to have a booth or for more information, contact Sharon Buhr or Andrea Winter at CHI Mercy Health at 845-6456.