RUMFORD – River Valley Healthy Communities will sponsor a 100 Miles in 100 Days program, aimed at motivating people to get and stay active, as well as promoting physical and mental health wellness through walking. The self-paced program will run from June 22 through Sept. 28.

The coalition challenges community members to grab a friend or colleague and go for a walk. All that has to be done is to keep track of how far and each time they walk. The goal is to have all walks during the 100-day period add up to at least 100 miles.

Walkers will have the option to receive a free Nordic walking demonstration at 5:15 p.m. Monday, June 22, at Hosmer Field by Kathleen Carroll, certified Nordic walking instructor.

Each participant will have access to poles during the six weeks; additionally each walker will receive a sheet to record their mileage. During the program, walkers will keep track of their own progress and report back at the end of the 100 days.

Incentive prizes will be distributed to all who reach the 100 mile/100 day goal, with each walker also being entered into a drawing for a new pair of Nordic walking poles.

The community-based health promotion coalition is funded by tobacco settlement dollars, as well as other state and local grants, to promote tobacco and substance abuse prevention, healthy nutrition and physical activity in the communities, schools and worksites of Albany Township, Andover, Bethel, Byron, Canton, Dixfield, Fryeburg Gilead, Greenwood/Milton Plantation, Hanover, Lovell, Mexico, Newry, Peru, Roxbury, Rumford, Stoneham, Stowe, Sweden, Upton and Woodstock/Bryant Pond.

There is already a Nordic walking group in place that meets regularly in Bethel. Contact Carroll at 824-2145 for more information.

Contact Carol Emery at 364-7408/[email protected] for registration materials and more details.