Geiger steps up to help local youth

PONDERAY — Mayor Steve Geiger walked a total of 180 miles in October to help the one and only school located in Ponderay purchase new playground equipment.

“What better thing to do than to walk for our kids,” Geiger said as he presented a $1,000 check to Sandpoint Christian School Principal Liz Page on Monday.

Mayors across Idaho were challenged in the 2018 Mayor’s Walking Challenge through the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation’s High Five grant program, and 64 mayors completed the task, Geiger said. The one-month competition challenged Idaho mayors to get walking to improve health, build teamwork and school pride, heighten awareness of better living styles, and to have fun, according to the High Five website. Mayor’s walked with a goal of hitting 10.000 steps a per day for the entire month of October. Idaho mayors walked 12,883 miles, which is more than halfway around the world. Getting there took 29,008,205 steps, according to the website.

Geiger said he averaged 12,000 steps, or six miles, each day by walking local trails.

The Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health created High Five to combat childhood obesity by launching programs that are community-created, community-driven, and community-owned. To succeed, mayors and local businesses, school teachers and principals, nonprofits and health providers, and children and parents drive their own High Five programs, leading by example and being involved. According to the website, the goal is to create a positive domino effect — kids who are more active and eat smarter are happier, more focused and enthusiastic when it comes to work and play, and become better citizens who create better communities throughout Idaho.

Geiger said if the walking challenge is held next year, he plans to take to the trails once again, and hopes the SCS kids will be able to join him on occasion as well.

“We are so grateful to have the help from the city, especially being the only school in Ponderay,” Page said. “What an honor to be the recipient of this help for our playground — we already have dreams for the playground,”

The main thing they want to do, Page said, is build a gaga ball court, which is a octagonal shaped wall that forms a “pit.” The kids played it at camp, she said, and ever since have been asking if they can play at school.

“There is a ballgame that is associated with it, and you would think that it would get old, but kids love it,” Page said. “They will play for hours and hours.”

Information: highfiveidaho.org

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.