BOISE, Idaho — Mayors from across the state supported physical activity in October by participating in the Mayor's Walking Challenge, an annual statewide program offered by the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health (BCIFH).
There were 98 participants, and Idaho communities are receiving a record $85,500 for projects and programs encouraging physical activity, according to the BCIFH. The payout and number of participants are the most in the 10-year history of the statewide program.
The Mayor's Walking Challenge is just that, a walking challenge for mayors to help promote healthy physical activity while raising money for their communities.
"Walking is one of the best things a person can do for his or health, and it has been truly inspiring to see so many Idaho mayors out walking in their communities this year," said Kendra Witt-Doyle, executive director of BCIFH.
According to a news release, by BCIFH, there were 73 mayors who walked at least 10,000 steps per day in October and managed to earn $1,000 for their communities. Of the mayors, Crouch's Trevor Schiefelbein and McCall's Bob Giles took more than 1 million steps during this challenge.
Mayors who walked at least 5,000 steps per day earned $500 for their communities, BCIFH said.
Many mayors took time to visit their local schools and walk with students, further emphasizing the importance of being active every day, said the BCIFH. Some mayors even picked up little on their walks and spent time meeting with their residents.
The BCIFH said since the inception of the walking challenge in 2014, mayors have earned more than $604,000 for their communities. Those funds have been used for a variety of projects and programs that promote a healthy lifestyle around Idaho.
The BCIFH provided the 2023 Mayor's Walking Challenge Champions below.
- Eastern Idaho
- American Falls: Rebekah Sorensen
- Ammon: Sean Coletti
- Arimo: Lonnie Gunter
- Bancroft: LuCus Spencer
- Blackfoot: Marc Carroll
- Chubbuck: Kevin England
- Dayton: Melvin Beutler
- Downey: Rex Nielsen
- Driggs: August Christensen
- Firth: Brandon Jolley
- Franklin: John Packer
- Grace: Jackie Barthlome
- Idaho Falls: Rebecca Casper
- Iona: Evan Mann
- Lewisville: Curtis Thomas
- Malad City: Joan Hawkins
- McCammon: Karlene Hall
- Montpelier: Ted Slivinski
- Mud Lake: Sherry Locascio
- Newdale: Kevin Van Wager
- Pocatello: Brian Blad
- Preston: Dan Keller
- Rexburg: Jerry Merrill
- Rigby: Richard Datwyler
- Roberts: B.J. Berlin
- Shelley: Stacy Pascoe
- St. Anthony: Donald Powell
- St. Charles: Alan Michaelson
- Tetonia: Brent Schindler
- Victor: Will Frohlich
- Weston: Greg Garner
- MAGIC VALLEY & CENTRAL IDAHO
- Albion: Isaac Loveland
- Bellevue: Christopher Johnson
- Buhl: Pamela McClain
- Fairfield: Terry Lee
- Hazelton: David Orr
- Heyburn: Dick Galbraith
- Hollister: Robyn Grover
- Jerome: David Davis
- Ketchum: Neil Bradshaw
- Leodore: Dale Peterson
- Murtaugh: Dee Hunsaker
- Paul: Brent Stimpson
- Richfield: Tom Naylor
- Stanley: Steve Botti
- Twin Falls: Christopher Reid
- Wendell: Rebecca Vipperman
- NORTHERN IDAHO
- Bovill: Diane Holt
- Clark Fork: Russell Schenck
- Cottonwood: Keith Holcomb
- Culdesac: William Vorrasi
- Dalton Gardens: Dan Edwards
- Deary: Jason Johnson
- Dover: George Eskridge
- East Hope: Vern Fleisher
- Ferdinand: Ralph Wassmuth
- Genessee: Nyla Roach
- Hayden Lake: Jim Ackerman
- Juliaetta: Richard Groseclose
- Kamiah: Betty Heater
- Kendrick: Rose Norris
- Lapwai: Antonio Smith
- Lewiston: Dan Johnson
- Moscow: Arthur Bettge
- Moyie Springs: Geoff Hollenbeck
- Nezperce: Steve Bateman
- Oldtown: Lonnie Orr
- Onaway: Sharon Shaffer
- Orofino: Sean Simmons
- Osburn: Kip McGillivray
- Peck: Nancy Greene
- Plummer: Chris Dohrman
- Ponderay: Steve Geiger
- Post Falls: Ron Jacobson
- Smelterville: Jessica Frank
- Spirit Lake: Jeremy Cowperthwaite
- Stites: Gerald J. Cathey
- Tensed: Richard Keaveny
- Winchester: Miriam Youngren
- SOUTHWEST IDAHO
- Caldwell: Jarom Wagoner
- Cascade: Judith Nissula
- Crouch: Trevor Schiefelbein
- Emmett: Gordon Petrie
- Fairfield: Terry Lee
- Fruitland: Kari Peterson
- Garden City: John Evans
- Glenns Ferry: William Galloska
- Homedale: Gheen Christoffersen
- Idaho City: Kenny Everhart
- McCall: Robert Giles
- Meridian: Robert Simison
- Mountain Home: Rich Sykes
- Nampa: Debbie Kling
- New Meadows: Julie Good
- Parma: Angie Lee
- Payette: Craig Jensen
- Placerville: Brian Davies
- Weiser: Randy Hibberd
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