North Lincolnshire Council’s popular workplace step challenge, Challenge 10,000, is back this October.
Now in its third year, the council is once again encouraging workplaces across North Lincolnshire to take part in the step challenge throughout the whole of October.
Challenge 10,000 aims to encourage people to walk up to 10,000 steps a day as a means to help improve health and wellbeing
The challenge starts on 30 September at midnight and ends on 31 October at midnight.
To enter colleagues from the same organisation should get into a team of four and individually aim to walk 10,000 steps daily (or more), or to increase their daily step count as much as possible during October.
Those taking part will be able to follow their team’s progress through the weekly stepper league tables.
All money raised throughout the challenge will be donated to Lindsey Lodge Hospice. Last year over £2,200 was raised for the charity.
Workplaces can enter their team from 16 September 2019. The deadline for entries is 26 September. Details on how to enter will be available soon.
There will be prizes and rewards up for grabs at the end of the challenge.
Last year’s Challenge 10,000 saw 98 teams of four take part from across organisations in North Lincolnshire including the Council, British Steel, North Lindsey College, North Lincolnshire and Goole Hospital Trust, plus many schools and other local businesses. Throughout the month, the teams walked an amazing 69,333 miles collectively.
The council aims to build on 2018’s success linking in with local businesses as part of its Wellbeing at Work initiative.
There are many benefits of walking regularly including reducing the risk of chronic illnesses and improvements to mood and wellbeing. All of which makes people feel fitter, healthier and happier, as well as helping to maintain a healthy weight.
Cllr Carl Sherwood, cabinet member for environment and community wellbeing, said:
“Now in its third year, Challenge 10,000 is going from strength to strength. We have received really positive feedback from those who have taken part about how it has improved their health, got them out when they wouldn’t usually exercise and motivated them to want to get fit.
“October is often a time when, due to the darker nights and colder weather, people’s fitness tends to drop off. This is why Challenge 10,000 takes place during October to encourage people to keep active and improve their health.
“Walking can easily fit into everyday activities, whether it is a 10 minute walk in your lunch break or walking your children to school, even parking your car a bit further away – it all makes a difference.
“Let’s see if we can make this year’s Challenge 10,000 better than last year. I am urging workplaces across North Lincolnshire to get on board and step up to the challenge.”
