This January, put your best foot forward in solidarity with frontline care teams and ‘Step a Million’ for Arthur Rank Hospice Charity! You have 100 days to walk one million steps, between 10 January and 19 April.
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 in support of the Charity’s clinical teams. Director of Clinical Services, Sara Robins, explains:
“Over the festive period and into the New Year – whilst many of us might be taking a much-deserved break – our Inpatient Unit, Hospice at Home and Specialist Palliative Care Home teams will continue to provide expert care 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to patients and their families. They will be taking thousands of steps, as they provide care in and around our sites in Cambridge and Wisbech and across the county visiting people’s homes. By taking part in Step a Million you will walking alongside them in spirit and showing your support in way that makes a real difference!”
Ellie Harris was one of the walkers who took part in 2021. She says:
“I loved everything about taking part with Step a Million. It gave me motivation to get out walking which benefited me massively. It was fun to take part with friends and colleagues and compete to be the first to reach 1 million steps. I’ve already signed up again to take part in January!”
The Charity is encouraging colleagues, volunteers, supporters, companies, groups, organisations, friends and families to join them in the challenge. Incredibly, nearly £30K was raised in 2021 and hopes are high that walkers can do the same (or even better!) to raise vital funds for hospice care at the start of 2022.
Reaching 1 million steps requires achieving 10,000 steps, approximately 5 miles, every day for the 100 days. Your efforts could help you feel more energetic and awake and walking is believed to have positive effects on your blood pressure and heart health, whilst reducing stress. It may just be the perfect formula for shaking the January blues!
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. The challenge has even been designed with potential Plan B restrictions in mind and can even be achieved through steps around your home or garden, or by doing one long walk each day. So, whatever the latest situation with the pandemic at the start of the year, it should still be possible for you to take 10,000 daily steps.
No doubt there will be some healthy competition, friendly encouragement, and cheeky banter on social media during 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 and you can sign up to take part now at arhc.org.uk/stepamillion. Participants are encouraged to gain sponsorship where possible.
