Greene County residents are encouraged to join Iowa’s “Healthiest State Walk” next week.

This year’s theme is “Walk at the Whistle,” which is in conjunction with recommended fire drills for schools and businesses during National Fire Prevention Week.  A local walk will be held on Wednesday, October 7th at noon.  It will start at the Hy-Vee parking lot in Jefferson, go through the downtown square and end at the Greene County Community Center.  For those participating in the walk, a lunch will be provided for a fee.  Hy-Vee will grill hamburgers and provide water, Fareway is donating hamburger buns and chips and Greene County Medical Center will provide a fresh bags of vegetables.

Greene County Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Carl Behne is happy to be leading the event and partnering with such great entities to help with the state’s initiative to become the healthiest state in the country.

“Well obviously it’s very important as the health care provider, here in Greene County, that we want to be front and center and leading that charge.  A healthy population is obviously one of our biggest goals.  Changing the way healthcare is delivered, just like everyone else in this country, of really working towards a wellness minded state.”

To sign up for the walk, go to iowahealthieststate.com, click on “Join a Group”, enter 50129 for the zip code and click on “Greene County” walk.  If you cannot make it to the walk, medical center staff encourage you to walk at least one kilometer (about 7.5 blocks) at noon on Wednesday.

The Healthiest State Walk started in 2011 as Governor Terry Branstad’s initiative to make Iowa the healthiest state, according to the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, in five years.  In 2014, Iowa ranked 16th.