RUMFORD — The River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition will participate in the “100 Miles in 100 Days” challenge starting Monday, Nov. 4, RVHCC member Barbara Rajaniemi said. It’s the fifth time the organization has taken part.

The challenge, which is run by Healthy Maine Streets through local group Envision Rumford, aims to motivate people to become active, as well as promote physical and mental health through walking or other forms of physical activity.

“Starting Monday, any community member is welcome to participate in the challenge,” Rajaniemi said. “They’ll have to sign a liability waiver, and after that, they’ll be given a log sheet and a conversion chart.

“The conversion chart helps people convert aerobic exercise into miles,” Rajaniemi continued. “It helps convert winter and summer activities, and it even helps you figure out how to convert household chores into miles.”

Rajaniemi said she was asked by Envision Rumford to help organize and administrate the challenge when it begins on Nov. 4.

The final day of the challenge will be on Feb. 11. Rajaniemi said that after the challenge ends, participants will return their sheets to her at the RVHCC building.

“Anybody who returns their log sheet with at least 100 miles logged will be entered to win a prize,” Rajaniemi added.

According to its website, Healthy Maine Streets helps “bring communities and small businesses together to create a wellness program that is shared by small businesses and eventually transforms our communities into more healthy, vibrant places to live and work.”

The program is a collaboration between the Maine Downtown Center and MCD Public Health and is made possible by a $1.64 million grant through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Community Transformation Grants.

For more information on the challenge, or to sign up, call Rajaniemi at 364-7408.

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