Edina To Become One of Minnesota’s First Healthy ‘do.towns’

The City of Edina joins forces with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota to create one of Minnesota’s first healthy ‘do.towns’You can likely recall Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota’s (Blue Cross) popular “Groove your body everyday” campaign in which they encourage Minnesotans to make choices towards a healthier life.  Yes, these commercials are often funny with awkward dancing, but the message is a serious one that has begun to resonate with people across the state.  In an effort to expand on that project, the City of Edina has decided to partner with two other local cities, as well as Blue Cross, to launch an 18-month project geared toward improving the health of their communities.  The program will encourage lifestyle changes that support healthy eating and active living.Edina will become one of Minnesota’s first healthy ‘do.towns’.  This initiative focuses on preventing illness caused by lack of physical activity and unhealthy eating habits, which combined are the second leading cause of death and disease in Minnesota.“We believe healthy communities are strong communities, but barriers to healthy living are everywhere,” said Edina Mayor James B. Hovland. “To help our residents succeed in being active and eating well, we needed a partner with proven expertise in helping people by making their surroundings — where they live, work and play — healthier. We’re fortunate Blue Cross is willing to join us in this exciting pilot project.”At Refined we are excited the City of Edina has chosen to participate in this new initiative, as we have always found one of the most unique things about many of our home sites is their close proximity to retail and dining locations - hopefully encouraging walking and supporting an active lifestyle.For more information on the new ‘do.town’ initiative and to find out how you can get involved, visit www.do-town.org to sign up and receive updates.