Hundreds of Community Members to Participate in State Walk on Wednesday

The 2025 Healthiest State Annual Walk is set to take place across Iowa on Wednesday, Oct. 1, and the LEAP Coalition has organized for area residents to participate for a second year.

Starting at 10 a.m., hundreds of people from the H-D-CAL High School, H-D-CAL Middle School, North Side, South Side, CAL Elementary and Franklin General Hospital will go on a walk around the community. The students in Hampton will walk to Band Shell Park. The CAL Elementary students will make their way down their community pathway. And the residents of Franklin Country View will be taken on a scenic stroll in their area.

These efforts were coordinated by members of the LEAP Coalition, as a way to get the community up and moving. Mayor Steve Birdsall is scheduled to speak to the students and school staff at Band Shell Park. He and the Franklin County Supervisors recently signed proclamations to recognize this year’s Healthiest State Annual Walk Day.

“I’m so excited to see so many organizations come together to collaborate on such a fun project,” said Lili Velasco, Franklin County ISU Extension and Outreach Office Program Coordinator & LEAP Program Coordinator. “I’m truly grateful for all the support we’ve received. It really shows that when we work together, we can accomplish so much. I hope the whole community comes out to join us for the walk!”

Velasco encourages everyone to join or cheer on their fellow community members as they walk on Wednesday, Oct. 1.