It’s a great way of bringing your New Year’s resolutions into focus, boosting your health and well-being and best of all you will be striding out, with – and in support of – the Hospice’s own clinical teams.
Tracy Hancock, Team Lead and Clinical Specialist from Arthur Rank Hospice Charity’s Lymphoedema’s Outpatient Clinic – who has worked for the organisation for 23 years – is looking forward to the challenge:
“I wanted to take part in Step a Million as walking is so important for well-being both physical and mental health. I know it will be much harder to walk in the colder, darker months, and this is the motivation I need. I can’t wait to do my little bit to support this great work.”
Reaching 1 million steps requires achieving 10,000 steps, approximately five miles, every day. Your efforts could help you feel more energetic and awake and the benefits are claimed to include positive effects on your blood pressure and heart health, whilst reducing stress. It may just be the perfect formula for shaking the January blues!
A team of nurses, healthcare assistants and doctors from the In-patient Unit has also signed up to take part. Jenny Oakes, Matron on the Ward, adds:
“It’s going to be a real feel-good morale booster for the New Year when we’re all going to need something positive to focus on. Most of us take thousands of steps a day around the Ward because our roles are so active, but it’s still going to be a real challenge to do 10,000 steps every single day for four months! Together, as is always the case, we will keep each other going. We hope that our wider #TeamArthur family will get involved too… the more the merrier!”
The fundraising team has produced a video encouraging the community to take part which can be seen on Arthur Rank Hospice Charity’s YouTube channel.
The Hospice is anticipating more colleagues will sign up, and is encouraging companies, groups, organisations, friends and individuals to join them in the challenge – which will raise vital funds for the Hospice at the start of 2021, following an extremely challenging 2020.
Paul Oggelsby, Managing Director at Riverlite Ltd (St Neots) explains why he and his colleagues were inspired to sign up:
“Arthur Rank Hospice is a charity that is very close to Riverlite and as a Company we look to support their charitable events, encouraging colleagues to get involved where they can. We look forward to getting fit and doing something for such a worthwhile cause. Also, the team is very competitive so I am sure there will be some good-natured rivalry!”
The million steps can be accumulated through your daily routine, taking the dog for an extra-long walk, parking a bit further away from the supermarket entrance, walking to work rather than driving or even popping on your trainers for a gentle jog. No doubt there will be more than a dash of healthy competition, friendly encouragement, and cheeky banter on social media across the four months. Those who are taking part – or wish to simply offer encouragement and support – can add updates on their progress or reply to posts – using the hashtag #StepaMillion.
Registration is just £12 per person and you can sign up to take part at arhc.org.uk/stepamillion. Participants are encouraged to gain sponsorship where possible. The challenge has been designed with COVID considerations in mind. It can be achieved through steps around your home or garden, or through one long walk each day, and – whilst it might be more challenging – it should still be possible for you to take 10,000 daily steps, even if subject to a local lockdown or quarantine.
If you would like to support Step a Million but taking part yourself is not possible, you can sponsor Tracy from the Hospice’s Lymphoedema team at arhc.org.uk/stepamillion-sponsor-tracy. The Hospice’s Inpatient Unit team would also be grateful for any donations received, and further details about their fundraising page will be shared on the Hospice’s Step a Million website page in due course.