‘Walk This Way’ to better health in F-M
Fargo Mayor Bruce Furness helped jump-start the third annual Walk This Way event Tuesday in Fargo’s City Hall.
The first of 10 group-walking events aimed at promoting exercise began with a one-mile trail through the skywalks of downtown Fargo.
Furness began by addressing America’s ongoing battle with obesity during the event’s opening.
“ We really have an epidemic going on in our nation in terms of weight, so what we’re doing is trying to get people to concentrate on fitness, and the easiest way to get people to do that is to walk,” Furness said. “We’re going to kick it off now by walking downtown today.”
Kim Lipetzky, public health nutritionist with Fargo Cass Public Health, said one of the event’s purposes is to not only promote exercise but also to showcase the various walking trails in the Fargo area.
“ We thought up the idea for Walk This Way because we just wanted to do something to get people out walking in the community,” Lipetzky said. “One of our goals is to get people to find the different trails in the Fargo-Moorhead area and walk. We try to do different spots such as NDSU, MeritCare and other locations in Fargo, Moorhead and Casselton (N.D.).”
Lipetzky also noted that walking reduces the risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and breast and colon cancer.
“ It can also help you lose weight and get a better night’s sleep,” Lipetzky said. “We encourage area residents to establish this healthy habit by joining us for a Walk This Way 2006.”
The next scheduled walk takes place March 28 at MeritCare downtown and ends May 16 at the Hjemkomst Center. The event is free and open to the public. Registration and event dates can be found at www.fmwalkthisway.com.