Olympic walker and advocate to speak on behalf of bipedalism

Walking advocate and host of PBS’s “America’s Walking” Mark Fenton will give a presentation in the Center for Faith Life on Wed, Oct. 7 at 7 p.m.

Fenton will speak on the health benefits of walking and how community efforts can encourage healthy behaviors.

Fenton will also speak to Personal Fitness and Wellness classes. Greg Lonning, director of the Nena Amundson Lifetime Wellness Program, has been instrumental in planning for the event.

Fenton’s visit is part of a larger effort by the Northeast Iowa Food & Fitness Initiative to increase awareness for community walk and bikeability.

The Northeast Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative is an organization sponsored by the W.K. Kellogg foundation, which promotes local food and community-based physical exercise. The initiative is comprised of the six most northeasterly counties in Iowa, including Winneshiek.

Fenton’s presentation will provide logistical information for communities interested in changing the dominant modes of transportation. Part of his presentation will be aimed toward school and city administrators and community members who have the power to encourage such changes.

Fenton will survey Luther’s campus to determine if the sidewalks and paths are used to their greatest efficiency. He will also visit several towns in the area to help plan for better sidewalks and bike paths for safer routes to schools.

On Oct. 8 Fenton will conduct a workshop for schools within the six counties of the FFI. The workshop will be held at Central High School in Elkader. He will work with students and school leaders on ways to increase the walk and bikeability of the various routes to school. Fenton is a graduate of MIT, a five-time member of the United States national race walking team, and former editor-at-large and columnist for Walking Magazine.

He has hosted various PBS television programs on walking, including a 13-part series called “America’s Walking.” Fenton has authored several books on walking for fitness.