I laced up my sneakers and joined Mayors from across Idaho last month for the Mayor’s Walking Challenge, powered by the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health. I had the privilege of walking with Mayors in their communities in every corner of the state – from Dover to Post Falls, Fruitland to Council, Garden City to Idaho City, Wendell, Pocatello, and many places in between.

What stood out to me most during the challenge wasn’t all the miles the mayors walked (though 41 million cumulative steps is quite impressive!), but how invested Idaho’s mayors are in the health and spirit of their cities. They don’t just talk about community wellbeing, they lead by example. They sent photos of themselves walking laps in airports while traveling for city business, walking before sunrise (because that was the only time they could fit their steps in), walking with elementary students, and I personally witnessed one mayor walking laps in the community center gym during a meeting break. They made time wherever they could, and made it all look like a leadership strategy.

And it is.

Because what this challenge actually reveals is that healthy communities start with connection. Every time I walked with a mayor, they’d point out something they were proud of – public art, a family-owned café, a local park resulting from a public-private partnership, or a group of residents who always show up. The walking was the reason we got together, but the conversations revealed what makes Idaho’s communities so strong: people who care about each other and want their towns to thrive.

To the 121 mayors who participated in the Mayor’s Walking Challenge and to those who took time out of your days to walk with our team, share your stories, and show off your communities through beautiful photos, thank you. You make us even more inspired to do this work.

As I settle into my first year with the Foundation, I’m struck by how simple acts, like taking a walk, can spark something bigger. I’m learning that health doesn’t happen in isolation; it happens when leaders, neighbors, and communities move forward together, one step at a time.

Congratulations, mayors – see you on the trails soon.

Note: We will announce the mayors who hit a step goal on Tuesday!