"Start Somewhere" Walk

Residents of the Ankeny area will join with thousands of other Iowans in a one-kilometer "Start Somewhere" Walk at 12 noon on Friday, Oct. 7.

Local walkers will meet at the Ankeny Hy-Vee, located at 410 N. Ankeny Blvd. The walk will begin on the south side of the Ankeny Hy-Vee, go west and south through the Terrace Elementary and Parkview Middle School parking lots, west along First Street, north in front of City Hall into Hawkeye Park and back east to where the walk started at Hy-Vee.

In addition, a kick-off party and grill-out will be offered at Hy-Vee starting at 11 a.m.

Statewide, coordinators hope to set a new world record for the number of people walking one kilometer simultaneously in an organized event. A kilometer is about 7.5 city blocks and a 12-minute stroll for the average walker. Walkers can sign up for the event at www.StartSomewhereWalk.com.

"By itself, a one-kilometer walk is not enough to change the health of the state, of course. But it's a symbolic first step on our path to becoming the healthiest state," said Mayor Steve Van Oort. "The Start Somewhere Walk is the kick-off of the five-year Healthiest State Initiative."

In early August, Governor Terry Branstad 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 2010, Iowa ranked 19th compared to all other states.

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