24 April 2012
We all think walking is as easy as putting one foot in front of the other. The British Heart Foundation recommends an average healthy person walks 10,000 each day, but for many the daily reality is only 3000.
To encourage health and wellbeing amongst Caerphilly County Borough Council staff, the Health Improvement team joined forces with Lets Walk Cymru to a walking challenge, with the aim to educate, promote and increase walking.
Over 700 council employees took part in the pedometer challenge, for some the 10,000 steps was a towering challenge to achieve whilst others skipped along at a greater pace. The top stepper took over 400,000 steps in just 5 weeks!
Chief Executive Anthony O'Sullivan praised the participants. He said, "The commitment of the participants has been commendable, on average partakers of the challenge increased the distance they walked each week by 8 miles. The impact on their health and wellbeing has been fantastic and it has created a buzz throughout the authority."
Overall the participants walked 61,000 miles which is 2 ½ times round the world! Through participating in the challenge employees were able to increase their physical activity but also reduce their carbon footprint by favouring walking over car journeys.
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