Pedometer Challenges around the UK in HASSRA

PDCS Pedometer Challenge

As part of the commitment to Wellbeing staff in PDCS embarked on a Walking challenge for which HASSRA were happy to support and loan pedometers. After 105 days the Challenge has now ended.

• Twenty-three teams, from all over the country, started out.
• The route passed through 70 or more places across Britain (and up and down it).
• Over the 105 days of the challenge, the teams took 125,713,621 steps. This equates to 59,863 miles travelled; more than twice round the earth's circumference at the equator.
• On average, each person taking part in the Challenge took over 1,093,161 steps or 10,411 steps each day.
• Participants raised at least £750 for Macmillan Cancer Support, which will contribute towards the 75th Anniversary total
• The CE agreed to award a prize to the team that took the most steps during the Challenge
• The Webmaster awarded a prize for the best photograph submitted by a participant
• Here’s a link to the website in case you want to have a look www.walk4health.org.uk

St Austell Pedometer Challenge

In their bid to promote the health and wellbeing of local staff, St Austell’s Wellbeing Group recently launched the ‘Pedometer Challenge.’ The brain child of John Nunn HASSRA volunteer and local Wellbeing Lead), their daring bid was to undertake a virtual walk from Lands End to John O'Groats! There was to be no cheating as teams compete to get there first, because they were all tagged with pedometers which accurately recorded how far they travelled every day.

The idea was to raise; health awareness, increase personal activity, bring sections and the office together in a light hearted competition. St Austell HASSRA supported the event by, buying the map and supplying some pedometers.

The winning team of Jane’s juggernauts are Jane Bowley, Gus Horsley, Jo Molyneux and Chris Jones, who ‘walked’ 699 miles in 11 weeks the distance covered is equivalent to walking from Lands End to Fort William and a bit! Second were management who covered 596 and reached ‘Glasgow’.

The winning team were presented with a trophy supplied by St Austell HASSRA and a basket of healthy goodies curtsey of the Management team.

Some useful tips and requirements on setting up a Pedometer Challenge

1. Set a route or time scale.

2. If setting a route, a map is required to plot the progress of the teams

3. Pedometers they MUST be the same type

4. Pedometers must be signed for at start, when they change hands.

5. Coordinator - minimum of two to share the load

6. Establish a way of communicating the progress of the teams

7. Support of the senior managers.

8. Prize for the winning team and presentation.

Rules

1. Teams of 4 allowed but can be changes around during the period of the challenge. All changes to be reported to the coordinator.

2. Number of steps to be reported to the coordinator by 10.00 Monday morning.

3. No shaking of the pedometer

4. Any lost pedometers to be replaced by the team member who lost it at their cost.

5. Have fun.

Notes

My suggestion is to set a time scale say two months as interest wanes if too long.

Scotland could use Munro bagging or West Highland Way, Wales - walk Offers Dyke, England - Lands End to John O’Groats, Coast to Coast, Pennine Way really any local long distance walk.

Presentation. Our management bought a large basket of fruit and healthy snacks to share amongst the winning section. HASSRA bought a trophy engraved with a tortoise, name of winning team and date.