Workplaces across the East Riding of Yorkshire are being encouraged to team up with the British Heart Foundation (BHF) in the fight against heart disease by organising a Pedometer Challenge.
The call to action follows a survey by the charity that showed nearly one in five workers (18%) do absolutely no physical activity during working hours and barely a quarter (27%) manage 20 minutes or less over the entire working day (1).
East Riding of Yorkshire Council is one workplace that has already taken up the Pedometer Challenge. Twenty five teams of five began their walking challenge this April and are walking the virtual distance of a range of destinations with the easiest option being 7000 steps a day to Jakarta to a harder option of 25,000 steps a day, which would be a loop around the world! The challenge is taking place over a four week period.
At the same time staff are being encouraged to sign up to the free British Heart Foundation’s Heart Matters Membership Scheme, a free service that offers a unique package of support and information for people looking to improve their heart health.
Sarah Oliver, East Riding of Yorkshire Council Community Health Development Worker said: “We’re delighted to be supporting Beverley Heart Town and working with the British Heart Foundation in this way and hope workplaces across Beverley and the East Riding of Yorkshire will join us.
“Being glued to your desk all day can make it hard to deal with work stress. Getting away from work and taking a walk could help to lower stress levels, as well as being a great way to build physical activity into the working day.
The challenge has special meaning for Lisa Wilson in the Policy and Partnerships Team. Lisa, aged 37, was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2012 and the treatment left her with reduced heart function. Lisa says, “My cardiologist recommended I take up walking to make my heart stronger so this workplace challenge is ideal. I lost six pounds in the first week by taking simple steps to increase my activity like walking to work, taking lunchtime walks with colleagues, and dog walking. I feel better in myself, with much more energy and less breathlessness”.
Sharon Oakley, BHF Fundraising Manager for Beverley, said: “Beverley is a BHF Heart Town, one of fewer than fifty heart towns and cities in the UK where entire communities are coming together to help beat heart disease. We are delighted that so many East Riding of Yorkshire Council staff have taken up this Pedometer Challenge and hope other workplaces in Beverley and across East Yorkshire join us.
“Many companies feel the financial drain of workplace absence. Taking on the Pedometer Challenge will boost wellbeing and morale while promoting a healthy competitiveness in your workplace. With National Walking Month in May, there’s never been a better time to start planning a walk to wellbeing.”
As part of the BHF’s Health at Work programme, the Pedometer Challenge helps organisations to get employees active. The pack includes a ‘how-to’ guide for the coordinator, posters, progress chart, pedometer and everything else you need to inspire colleagues to get moving.
Keeping fit can have huge benefits to your heart health, but taking action could improve the financial health of the company as well as the physical. Workplace absence can have a big effect on a company’s bottom line with the average reported cost of absence per employee coming in at around £600 (2).
To order your free Pedometer Challenge pack and learn more about the BHF’s Health at Work programme, visit bhf.org.uk/healthatwork. To find out more about Beverley Heart Town, the new BHF Beverley Committee, or corporate fundraising please contact Sharon Oakley on 01904 270 776 or email oakleys@bhf.org.uk.
