Crowds of walkers in ten cities across England and Wales will take great strides to improve their health this month by taking part in Walk4Life.
Change4Life, ITV and walking groups are joining together to hold ITVs Walk4Life Day on Sunday 26 September. This is a nationwide day of mass-participation walks which will see people across the country stepping out and on their way to a happier, healthier future.
On 13 September, ITV newsrooms across England and Wales are launching the campaign to get viewers off their sofas and encouraging them to get active, improve their lifestyle and walk in a location near them.
The free Change4Life events will be open to everyone, from experienced ramblers to first-time walkers and will be between one and three miles long. Ten major events will be held around England and Wales, led by local ITV personalities.
Public Health Minister Anne Milton said:
Walking is a great way for families to spend time together. 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. Its 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.
Adam Crozier, ITVs Chief Executive said:
Walking is something that almost everyone can do to improve their health. I hope our viewers across the country willstep upto thechallenge and join ITVs Walk4Life Day.
The walks coincide with the launch of a new website www.walk4life.info which allows people to type in their postcode to find a local walk, or if they live near one of the ten ITV Walk4Life events, to head down and join in.
Theres also a network of hundreds of regular walks across the country, which can all be found on the Walk England website. A wide range of supporting organisations including the British Heart Foundation, Living Streets, Walking for Health, Ramblers, Sustrans and Walk England are all bringing their walking expertise to the day and are a good source of information for people wanting to find local walks in the future.
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.
Walks are taking place in:-
Cambridge Mill Pond led by Walk England (11am)
Nottingham Victoria Embankment led by Age UK (11am)
Birmingham Highbury Park led by the Ramblers (11am)
Bristol Millennium Square - led by the Bristol Health Walks Partnership (10.45am)
Brighton Seafront - led by Brighton and Hove City Council (11am)
Caerphilly on Thursday 23rd September led by Sport Wales (11 am)
Newcastle Quayside, City Centre led by Newcastle City Council (11am)
Hull The Humber Bridge British Heart Foundation event (11am) donation of 5 to BHF required
London Gabriels Wharf led by Walk England (11am)
Manchester Hollingworth Lake British Heart Foundation event (11am) Free to enter if registered in advanceor a donation of 15 if you turn up on the day.
