All the Way to Oz and Back for Charity

HEALTH-CONSCIOUS staff at Darlington care homes walked to Australia on a keep-fit mission – virtually.The primary care trust employees clocked up 16,859 miles on pedometers – the equivalent of walking from Darlington to Sydney and halfway back – after putting in many hours at swimming pools, gyms and roads across the North- East.More than 50 employees at AMEC and Supreme Care Homes, in Darlington, competed in a seven-week scheme designed to boost fitness.The challenge was part of the 1.6m Well@Work programme, led by the British Heart Foundation and funded by the Department of Health, Sport England and the Big Lottery Fund.Darlington Primary Care Trust supplied pedometers, cycle computers, bike routes and lights to all competitors taking part in the virtual challenge, and monitored their journeys weekly.The winning team was Arrested Development, from Supreme Care Homes. Team members Barry and Ross Titcombe, Carl Baird, Lisa Falls, Ann Hull and Graham Coles covered 3,588 miles.The primary care trust’s healthy lifestyles co- ordinator, Phil Crosby, said: “This really is an amazing feat for the teams whose enthusiasm for the project was boundless.”Being active is crucial to health.”With people spending a great deal of time at work, the workplace clearly has a role to play when it comes to fitness.With this in mind, we are planning more challenges in the year ahead.”

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