Helping people to Walk 4 Life
Change4Life, ITV and walking groups, including Mid Sussex District Council Healthy Walks, joined together to hold ITV’s Walk4Life Day on Sunday 26 September. The South-East area ITV-sponsored walk took place in sunny Brighton, and went from Hove Lawns for 2 miles along the seafront.
Over 200 people attended the walk, sporting their free bright yellow Walk 4 Life T shirts to advertise the campaign. Information stands from Brighton and Hove City Council, Walk4Life, Nordic Walking, and Sussex Walking for Health schemes were there for people to find out more about walking in their local area.
“Walking is a great way for families to spend time together,” said Public Health Minister Anne Milton. “Brisk walking for at least ten minutes is good for improving health and can count towards the recommended activity goals of thirty minutes five times a week for adults, and sixty minutes every day for children. It’s good for you and it gives you a chance to take time out of your busy life - quality time that is free and available to us all."
Bringing together local, commercial and governmental partners, Change4Life is helping people all over the country understand the long-term health risks of a poor diet and inactive lifestyle, and is helping to highlight the small and simple changes, such as walking which can make a big difference.
Walking for Health accredits the Mid Sussex District Council Healthy Walks scheme and both organisations aim to get more people fit and active by offering led walks across the entire District. Mid Sussex District Council Healthy Walks cater for all abilities and allow people to progress through the difficulty levels as their fitness improves. There are many benefits to walking with a group, including the safety of having others around and being able to make new friends.
Walk4Life day also coincided with the launch of a new website www.walk4life.info, which allows people to type in their postcode to find a local Walk4Life walk or to find details of the ten ITV Walk4Life events. The Mid Sussex Healthy Walks scheme already has over 20 short walk routes loaded to the website.
“Mid Sussex District Council is proud to support Walk4Life Day, it’s a fantastic way to remind people of the benefits Healthy Walks can bring,” said Councillor Pru Moore, Cabinet Member for Leisure and Sustainability. “ Mid Sussex District Council provides a broad range of free Healthy Walks to suit people of all ages and abilities. Our Healthy Walks are an excellent way to stay in shape and make the most of the glorious countryside we have in Mid Sussex,”
Mid Sussex District Council is currently looking to recruit more Volunteer Walk Leaders to help expand the Healthy Walks programme in Mid Sussex. For more information about Mid Sussex Healthy Walks visit our website www.midsussex.gov.uk/healthywalks or contact us on 01444 477561 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it