BackBritain challenged to walk around the world
Britons grounded by volcanic ash are being urged to walk instead, with a virtual challenge to walk around the Equator. As part of national Walk to Work Week, people are being encouraged to take to the streets and register their miles (for free) on a special website, which will record how far the nation gets to a walking around the Equator.
Businesses, organisations and individuals across the country can take part in national Walk to Work Week (26 – 30 April) with the aim of totting up nearly 25,000 miles, the distance around the equator.
National charity Living Streets runs the Walking Works Campaign, which is funded by the Big Lottery Fund to highlight the role that walking can play in bringing much needed activity into our daily lives. Walk to Work Week is an annual reminder that walking all or part of the commute is fun, green and healthy and can be slotted in to even the busiest lives.
With many businesses and individuals already signed up to take part, Living Streets is keen to encourage more workplaces to get involved to get the nation walking. Latest figures show that 61% of us are currently overweight or obese and a fifth of people exercise once a month or less. By walking all or part of the journey to or from work, or even by talking a stroll at lunchtime, we can increase our fitness levels and easily reach the target of 30 minutes of exercise a day as recommended by the Chief Medical Officer.
During Walk to Work Week , Living Streets are asking people to log in to a microsite www.walkingworks.org.uk/walk-to-work-week which keeps a record of individual walking achievements as well as whole organisations. Step counters will then show how far they’ve contributed to the Equator walk as well as individual goals of walking laps of Wembley Stadium and a business challenge of walking from Lands End to John O’Groats. Twitter fans can automatically update twitters feed with walking stats. Throughout the week registered users will be set five walking challenges to help motivate kick start some friendly competition. These include:
- Walking to work
- Walking from work
- Walking to a meeting
- Taking a walking meeting
- Walking during your lunch break
In addition to reporting on miles walked, the website demonstrates how much CO2 has been saved by walking and how many calories have been burned.
Tony Armstrong, Chief Executive of Living Streets said:
“The Walk to Work Week microsite is a brilliant way for you to see your walking achievements. We’ve set the goal of collectively walking the distance around the equator, but I’m sure that this year we will smash that target!
“Walking is free, green and easy, and walking all or part of the journey to work, or even walking more during the working day, is an excellent way to get more exercise into your daily routine. The impact of walking more can be huge, not only for your health, but to give you time to plan the day ahead, or to unwind after it, we are urging everyone to give it a go!”
You can register to take part in this free event by logging on to www.walkingworks.org.uk/walk-to-work-week
Notes to editors
For any press enquiries, please contact Anna Powell, Press Officer on 020 7377 4914 or email anna.powell@livingstreets.org.uk. For any out of hours press enquiries, please call 07545 209865.
Living Streets’ national Walking Works campaign is part of a portfolio of projects being delivered by Travel Actively, a consortium of leading walking, cycling and health organisations committed to providing opportunities for 1.8 million people to become physically active through active travel by 2012.
The consortium is funded with more than £19.9m from the Big Lottery Fund's Well-being programme, which provides funding to support the development of healthier lifestyles and to improve well-being.
Consortium partners are British Cycling, CTC, Campaign for Better Transport, Cycling England, Living Streets, London Cycling Campaign, the National Heart Forum, the National Obesity Forum, the Ramblers, Sustrans and Walk England.
The Big Lottery Fund has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since its inception in June 2004. It was established by Parliament on 1 December 2006. Full details of the work of the Big Lottery Fund, its programmes and awards are available on the website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Living Streets is the national charity that stands up for pedestrians. With our supporters we work to create safe, attractive and enjoyable streets, where people want to walk.
We have been the national voice for pedestrians throughout our 80 year history. In the early years, our campaigning led to the introduction of the driving test, pedestrian crossings and 30mph speed limits. Since then our ambition has grown. Today we influence decision makers nationally and locally, run successful projects to encourage people to walk, and provide specialist consultancy services to help reduce congestion and carbon emissions, improve public health, and make sure every community can enjoy vibrant streets and public spaces.
Published on: 19/04/2010
