Breadcrumbs
Healthy walking strides past 100th milestone: WHI gets over a third of a million on their feet – 10 July 2002
Currently two thirds of us don’t take enough exercise, which directly contributes to a third of all deaths from coronary heart disease.
Today (Wednesday 10 July) WHI announced that it is awarding its 100th grant to the East End & Hendon walking scheme in Sunderland. Since WHI was set up in October 2000 it has channelled £2.5 million into communities across England to get people on the move.
The East End & Hendon walking scheme is based in what was once called the ‘poorest postcode’ in the country with very high rates of coronary heart disease. WHI has awarded £47,800 to the group which, along with £11,500 that has been raised locally, will help see locally designed steel way marks to guide people along routes, a programme of led walks and a mentoring programme so that local people can walk together and make new friends.
Peter Ashcroft, WHI project manager, said: “Brisk, regular walking is a great way for most of us to improve our health - it is free and to say it’s easy to do is to state the obvious. We set up WHI to get people up and out of their armchairs. Our funding and advice for community groups helps provide the practical triggers that encourage people to walk, which is exactly what this scheme in Sunderland is doing.”
Mark Quinn, managing director of Kia Cars, WHI’s sponsor commented: “The launch of the hundredth walking scheme marks a fantastic milestone for WHI. It shows how much hard work is being done by communities across the country to establish walking routes and improve levels of health.
“Walking is great exercise and can be easily incorporated into our daily routines. At Kia we recommend leaving the car at home for short journeys as just one way in which we can all start to walk more - reducing congestion and our impact on the environment.”
Recent WHI research* shows that joining a walking group to increase the amount of exercise a person takes, and improve their health really does work. Following GP advice to take more exercise people who joined a WHI walking group were over half as likely to be still taking more exercise a year later than people who were just told to walk more then left on their own.
The East End & Hendon group demonstrates exactly what WHI is all about - a community led programme getting people who live in areas of poor health to walk, enabling them to enjoy themselves, meet new people and improve their health. The first walk is today (10 July) as part of their 'Walk to get fit’ week. For further information on the scheme please contact Duncan Gomes on 0191 567 0978.
For further information about WHI visit www.whi.org.uk or call 01242 533 350. WHI received £6,400,000 from the New Opportunities Fund, which distributes National Lottery ‘good causes’ money, and sponsorship from Kia Cars’ as part of its ‘Think Before You Drive’ campaign.
Photography of the first Hendon & East End walk is available on request.
* ‘Walking for Health: the first randomised control trial’ (CRN 18) is a research note available from Countryside Agency publications on 0870 120 6466 or can be viewed on the Countryside Agency’s website at www.countryside.gov.uk or www.whi.org.uk.
The British Heart Foundation plays an important role in funding medical research. It also funds education, both of the public and of health professionals, and in providing life-saving cardiac equipment and support for rehabilitation and patient care. It receives no government funding.
The Countryside Agency is responsible for advising government and taking action on issues affecting the social, economic and environmental well being of the English countryside. www.countryside.gov.uk
The New Opportunities Fund distributes National Lottery funding to health, education and environment projects across the UK to improve the quality of life and address the needs of those who are most disadvantaged in society.
Kia Cars is one of the world’s major car manufacturers. It recognises the need for positive changes in the way we use the car. Kia actively encourages individuals to ‘Think Before You Drive’ and, where possible, to use alternative, sustainable and healthy forms of transport, in particular walking and cycling.
