Why not make it your New Years resolution this year to get fit, do more exercise and make new friends by joining the Huntingdonshire Health Walk Scheme. The scheme can help you work towards achieving all these goals and more.
The scheme is run in partnership with Huntingdonshire District Council and Cambridgeshire Primary Care Trust and offers group led walks in St Ives, St Neots, Huntingdon, Ramsey and Yaxley. Walks are held on each week day with occasional weekend walks throughout the month and new walkers are always welcome. New walkers are advised to arrive about 10 minutes early to complete some essential health and safety questionnaires. All new walkers receive a pedometer on completion of 10 walks; with more awards the more walks you do. Introduce a friend to the scheme during January and receive a limited edition health walks mug.
Walking has been shown to be a low risk activity with many health related benefits. It can help to lower blood pressure and regular walking can help reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, walking can also help to maintain or lose weight. It is an excellent way to meet new friends, particularly if you join in with an established group and many of our walks finish with a cup of tea or coffee and a chat.
The Huntingdonshire health walks scheme enjoyed their Christmas party at Hinchingbrooke Country Park last month and a number of awards were presented to the walkers for their dedication in 2007.
Lisa Bulbeck, Health Walks Co-ordinator said; “2007 was the most successful year to date with many new walkers joining and new volunteer leaders being trained. This year the gifts awarded to the leaders to thank them for their help and support throughout the year was a health walks umbrella, rather appropriate given the weather during 2007, let’s hope 2008 is a drier year for our walkers. However the damp weather did not deter our most determined of walkers and prizes were awarded to those who have walked the most throughout the district this year”.
Prizes were awarded in each area and the Chairman of the Council, Councillor Phillip Swales awarded each walker with a certificate and a health walks umbrella for their dedication. Councillor Swales said; “The walkers should be commended for their enthusiasm, without the walkers, and the help of the volunteer walk leaders, there would be no health walks scheme”.
The prizes were awarded to Brenda Bridges St Ives, Audrey Purvis and Brenda Tait Ramsey, Richard Garnett Huntingdon, Mary Hall St Neots and Marguerite Hudson Yaxley. Mike West was also awarded a special prize for walking the most times in one month walking 22 walks from a total of 34.
For more information about a walk near you contact Lisa Bulbeck on 01480 387047 or you can pick up a leaflets available from your local library, leisure centre or surgery. The walks programme is also available on the link on the right.