Health and council colleagues join forces with Olympic champion in support of World Health Day

Olympic archer Alison Williamson will be joining staff from both Shropshire Council and Shropshire’s Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) in support of World Health Day.

Each year a theme is selected for World Health Day (this year on Sunday 7 April 2013) that highlights a priority area of public health concern in the world.  This year’s theme is high blood pressure (hypertension), and the ultimate goal of the campaign is to reduce heart attacks and strokes.

Shropshire’s new Health and Well-being Board will be taking the opportunity to support the campaign by promoting health in the workplace.  The board will be encouraging staff to take part in a number of guided walks across the county, during their lunchbreak, throughout week beginning 7 April.    

Alison will be joined by the Health and Well-being Board and council staff at Shirehall on Friday 12 April 2013 at 12pm midday, and will walk part way to The Quarry park in Shrewsbury.  Alison will carry on with some Board members to meet health colleagues from the CCG, who Alison will then join with to walk the rest of the campaign’s journey to William Farr House. 

The walk also signifies the commitment of both Shropshire Council and Shropshire CCG to making a real difference to people’s health and well-being.

As well as supporting world health day and promoting the health benefits of walking, the walks marks the launch of the new Health and Well-being Board.

Rod Thomson, Shropshire Council’s director of public health, said:

“We are absolutely delighted that Alison Williamson can join us and help us promote the health and social benefits of walking. 

“Shropshire Council and Shropshire CCG are very keen to promoting health within our own organisations.  In support of World Health Day, and to mark the launch of the Health and Well-being Board, we want to encourage staff to walk during lunchbreaks, and are offering guided walks in several locations across the county.

“I encourage and hope many staff can come along to one of these walks, and support us in promoting good physical and mental health in Shropshire.” 

Shropshire Members of Youth Parliament have health and well-being as a main priority this year, and will be meeting on Monday 8 April to celebrate World Health Day and to create a workshop which they will deliver to their communities to see what their health priorities are.

For information on walking, its health benefits and walking groups in Shropshire, visit the Walking for Health website at www.walkingforhealth.org.uk.