Join Market Drayton for National Walking Month and walk your way to health

Market Drayton Walking for Health, your local scheme, is supporting National Walking Month by offering free, friendly health walks throughout May 2016. Walking is a great way to get active, meet new people and explore your local area.

With walks ranging from less than 30 minutes to one and a half hours, there’s something for everyone.

Stuart West, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for leisure and culture, said:-

“We’re delighted to be supporting National Walking Month this May. Our volunteer walks leaders help all sorts of people to enjoy the many health benefits that regular walking brings, providing support every step of the way.

Liz Evans, scheme co-ordinator for Market Drayton, said:

“Our walkers have a great deal of fun, making new friends and getting to know their local area. Many of us know we should be more active, so why not join us this May and let us welcome you along to our next walk.”

Karen Calder, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for health and well-being, said:

“Walking counts towards the recommended two and a half hours of physical activity people should be doing each week. Only 61% of adults in England are currently meeting this recommendation, but walking offers a free and simple solution.

“Walking is a wonderful form of natural exercise, which is simple but it is also effective. We could prevent 37,000 deaths every year, just by taking a walk. In just a short time walking can significantly improve a person’s health, well-being and confidence.”

Market Drayton Walking for Health runs walks that are no longer than one and a half hours in length, with at least one walk of less than 30 minutes every month. By keeping walks short, new walkers and those with long term health conditions will feel more confident getting started.

To find a short walk near you go to www.walkingforhealth.org.uk/walkfinder or call Liz Evans on 01743 255068.

Further information

• Walking for Health is England’s largest network of health walk schemes, offering free short walks across the country to help people lead a more active lifestyle. We’ve done this with great success for over 14 years, and in this time improved the lives of thousands of people. Now the Ramblers and Macmillan Cancer Support are working together to ensure Walking for Health gets even more people active and healthy in the years to come.
• Over 400 schemes deliver around 1,800 walks every week reaching 20,200 walkers. Walks are supported by around 8,300 active volunteers.
• Walking may be straightforward, but it’s also effective. The Chief Medical Officers agree that walking counts towards those all-important 150 minutes of moderate physical activity everyone should be doing. To find out more, visit http://bit.ly/1hnxkbO to read the Walking for Health report, Walking Works.
• According to self-reported figures for 2012, only 61% of English adults were sufficiently active for good health. This figure uses the current CMOs’ guidelines of 150 minutes or more of moderate intensity activity as a benchmark. These self-reported figures are from the Joint Health Surveys Unit figures for 2012.

About the Ramblers

• The Ramblers is at the heart of walking in Britain; working to promote walking and protect the places where people walk. For over 75 years it has helped build and protect Britain’s 140,000 mile long path network, it runs over 45,000 walks a year, and campaigns for better walking routes and more walking opportunities.
• To find out more about the Ramblers Festival of Winter Walks go to www.ramblers.org.uk/

About Macmillan Cancer Support

• When you have cancer, you don’t just worry about what will happen to your body, you worry about what will happen to your life. At Macmillan, we know how a cancer diagnosis can affect everything and we’re here to support you through.
• From help with money worries and advice about work, to someone who’ll listen if you just want to talk, we’ll be there. We are millions of supporters, professionals, volunteers, campaigners and people affected by cancer. Together we make sure there’s always someone here for you, to give you the support, energy and inspiration you need to help you feel like yourself again. We are all Macmillan.
• No one should face cancer alone. Call us free on 0808 808 00 00 (Monday to Friday, 9am–8pm) or visit macmillan.org.uk.