Healthiest State Walk goal achieved: Iowans walk in all 99 counties

Iowans in every county of the state on Wednesday voted with their feet in support of the Healthiest State Initiative, marking the first time in the Healthiest State Walk’s five-year history that organized walks were held in all of Iowa’s 99 counties.

“The annual Healthiest State Walk is a great opportunity for Iowans to show their continuing support for Iowa to become the healthiest state in the nation,” said Jeff Russell, president and CEO of Delta Dental of Iowa and co-chair of the 2015 Healthiest State Walk. “More than 1.1 million Iowans have participated in the previous four walks, and this year we wanted our focus to be on statewide participation with the goal of having organized walks in every Iowa county.”

Russell said that the Healthiest State Initiative partnered with the State Fire Marshal Division to engage Iowans throughout the state. “With this year’s theme of ‘Walk at the Whistle,’ we encouraged schools, communities and businesses to coordinate walks with fire drills to increase awareness of fire safety and a healthier Iowa.”

Those efforts, including support from Live Healthy Iowa, helped lead to more than 970 walks throughout the state and in all 99 Iowa counties.

Delta Dental of Iowa was presenting sponsor of the 2015 Healthiest State Walk.

“Delta Dental of Iowa is committed to improving the health and the smiles of the people we serve,” Russell said. “We were proud to sponsor the Healthiest State Walk again this year.”

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, nonprofits and the public sector in a broad-based, community-focused effort.

For more information, visit www.iowahealthieststate.com.