WILTON – Residents of Franklin County, Livermore and Livermore Falls succeeded in the Healthy Community Coalition’s challenge to walk 24,000 miles, the distance around the world. Individuals, groups, classroom and work site teams participated. A grand total of 25,168 miles was walked.
Among the most dedicated participants were students at the Livermore Falls Middle School, who were facing a trimester without any physical education. The staff at the school heard about the Walk Around the World and decided that it was a way the school could get students active and incorporate health education. The staff, principal and students incorporated 30 minutes of exercise outdoors, either walking or at play, every other day during the week. As participants in the challenge, they collectively recorded more than 1,600 miles.
All participants were eligible for prizes drawn at the end of the challenge. The prizes and winners were: a mountain bike and helmet from Northern Lights, won by Stephanie Couture of Farmington; a kayak and paddle from Ski Depot, won by Judy Townley of Phillips; $50 gift certificate to K&J Apparel and Footwear, won by Patty Jacobs of Farmington; two-day passes to Titcomb Mountain Ski area, won by Alice Rumley of Dixfield; three all-day passes to Carrabassett Valley Anti-Gravity Complex, won by Charlene Decker of New Vineyard; three personal yoga classes for one person with Megan Roberts, won by Mary Edes of Farmington; and three multi-function pedometers from the Healthy Community Coalition, won by Tom Taylor of Farmington, Shelby Osgood of Livermore Falls and Justin Knox of Livermore.
The Walk Around the World program developed as part of the Healthy Community Coalition’s STRIDES program, which seeks to get people more active.
More information about STRIDES or any of the programs offered by the Healthy Community Coalition may be obtained by calling 645-3136 or 1-800-525-3136, or visiting the Healthy Community Coalition’s Web site at www.fchn.org/HCC/.
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