RUMFORD — The River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition is challenging residents to walk 100 miles in 100 days in hopes of keeping residents physically and mentally fit.

The challenge will kick off with a meet and greet registration at 5:15 p.m. Monday, March 2, at the River Valley Healthy Communities office at 94 River St, coalition member Barbara Rajaniemi said.

The 100 Miles in 100 Days challenge, which is run by Healthy Maine Streets through the local group Envision Rumford, is a program aimed at motivating people to become active, as well as promoting physical and mental health through walking or other forms of physical activity.

Following the registration, participants will take a short walk around downtown Rumford.

Rajaniemi said in a news release that the goal of the challenge is to walk one mile every day for 100 days.

Participants will track their progress on a log sheet.

The challenge ends on June 9, and participants will have until June 15 to return their results to the River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition.

“You will track your progress on the log sheet and return a postcard acknowledging your success,” Rajaniemi said. “All who return their postcard will be eligible for the random prize drawing of a $50 gift certificate to Carlisle’s Apparel and Footwear on Congress Street.”

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.

mdaigle@sunjournal.com