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

Olympic Archer Alison Williamson joined staff from both Shropshire Council and Shropshire’s Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) in support of World Health Day last week.

Each year a theme is selected for World Health Day that highlights a priority area of public health concern in the world.  This year’s theme was 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 took the opportunity to support the campaign by promoting health in the workplace.  Staff took part in a number of guided walks across the county, during their lunch break, throughout the week beginning 7 April.    

Alison was joined by the Health and Well-being Board and council staff at Shirehall on Friday 12 April at 12pm and walked part way to The Quarry park in Shrewsbury.  Alison then carried on with some Board members to meet health colleagues from the CCG, who Alison joined with to walk the rest of the campaign’s journey to William Farr House.  The walk also signified the coming together of the health partnerships.

As well as supporting World Health Day and promoting the health benefits of walking, the walks also marked 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 joined us and helped us promote the health and social benefits of walking. 

“Shropshire Council and 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 their lunchbreak.” 

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