North Idaho mayors to participate in walking challenge

A record 121 Idaho mayors from across the state began the annual Mayor’s Walking Challenge on Wednesday.

The program is part of the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health that promotes the importance of physical activity throughout the month of October. 

“We are thankful and fortunate that most of Idaho’s mayors understand the importance of physical activity and are willing to step forward for their communities,” Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health Program Officer Lisa Bearg said. “We have a lot of familiar faces walking again this year, as well as first-time walkers from cities that hadn’t previously participated.”

The Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health program has given nearly $700,000 to Idaho cities over the last 12 years on behalf of mayors who have participated in the challenge.

The Mayor’s Walking Challenge sets a daily step goal of 5,000 or 10,000 steps-per day in October. Participants use a smartphone app or activity tracker to log their steps.

Those who reach a step goal earn funds for their community. 

The challenge includes incentives for walking with children at school or with seniors, walking in a Halloween costume and more.

“We want this challenge to be a fun way for mayors and communities to be physically active,” Bearg said.

Mayors earn $500 in grant funding for walking 165,000 steps in October (5,000 daily average) or $1,000 for walking 310,000 steps (10,000 daily average). 

Here are the North Idaho participants for this year’s challenge:

Bonners Ferry: Rick Alonzo    
Lewiston: Dan Johnson
Bovill: Will Stokes
Moscow: Art Bettge
Clark Fork: Russell Schenck
Moyie Springs: Geoff Hollenbeck
Cottonwood: Keith Holcomb
Nezperce: Tyler Nelson
Dalton Gardens: Curt Jernigan
Oldtown: Lonnie Orr
Deary: Jason Johnson
Onaway: Sharon Shaffer
Dover: George Eskridge
Orofino: Mark Swayne
East Hope: Pam Brockus
Osburn: Kip McGillivray
Ferdinand: Ralph Wassmuth
Pierce: Greg Gerot
Fernan Lake Village: Ray Watkins
Pinehurst: Skip Robinett
Genesee: John Hermann
Plummer: Chris Dohrman
Hayden: Ed DePriest
Ponderay: Steve Geiger
Hayden Lake: Lee Zink
Post Falls: Ron Jacobson
Hope: William Breen
Potlatch: David Brown
Juliaetta: Nick Anderson
Sandpoint: Jeremy Grimm
Kellogg: Rod Plank
Smelterville: Jessica Frank
Kendrick: Rose Norris
Stites: Josh Bradley
Kooskia: Christina Ulmer
Wallace: Lynn Mogensen
Lapwai: Antonio Smith
Winchester: Miriam Youngren