Lanarkshire’s favourite challenge is back for 2023!
The Walking Challenge, run by the Big Team Challenge (BTC), will take place from Thursday 25 May to Wednesday 5 July.
Last year, an incredible 1200+ participants formed 377 teams to take part! The teams combined racked up an astounding 480 million steps – the equivalent of walking over 8 times around the world!
This year’s challenge is extra special as it finishes on the day of the NHS’s 75th anniversary, and to celebrate, we have chosen the virtual route of Scottish Isles with 27 milestones to reach.
You’ll be doing your bit for the planet too, as for every 5 sign ups a tree will be planted by the BTC!
With registration now open for teams to sign up here’s how you can get involved in this year’s walking challenge:
What is the Walking Challenge?
Is a free, six-week event where all NHS Lanarkshire staff can participate by getting together a team of up-to five people, choosing a fun team name and striding through the streets and counting their steps.
Every step counts – whether it’s walking, cycling, swimming or running, as long as you use your legs and feet, it all counts towards your total!
Above all, remember this is your challenge! It’s about having fun and getting outdoors. Set your own goals, or don’t! Just try and log your steps so you can chart your progress through the milestones of Italy and see what you can learn along the way.
How do I count my steps?
You can use a step counter, fitness device, smartwatch or free smartphone pedometer app. If you don’t have one, there are a limited number of pedometers and fitness bands available to borrow via the Health Improvement library.
Where do I register?
Sign up is open where you can register your team; https://hwl.bigteamchallenge.com
If you created an account in previous years, you don’t have to re-register, simply log on and set up your team!
This challenge is all about reaping the benefits of a little exercise, some fresh air and working with your team mates to reach each milestone along the way.
Last year, the winning team were ‘Ortho is the Hip’est’. The team managed a spectacular 4,476km.
Part of Ortho is the ‘Hip’est, Andrew Cruikshank, rotational physiotherapist, University Hospital Wishaw, said: “Our team really enjoyed the challenge, and we are all thrilled to have come first place in 2022.
“We are all fairly active at the best of times as we have; a keen dog walker, a runner, a member who is at the gym regularly and 2 keen cyclists. The challenge has pushed us to become even more active, as we all now go for walks on our breaks.
“We are all competitive too and found ourselves competing with each other within the team and not just with the other teams in the challenge, we’re looking forward to this year’s already so we can aim to keep our winning title.”
Mary McGibbon, Health Improvement Senior – Healthy Working Lives, NHS Lanarkshire, said: “We’re really looking forward to running the Walking Challenge 2023, and celebrating 75 years of the NHS, as it’s a great activity for all staff to get involved in.
“There are many benefits to walking and doing it together within NHS Lanarkshire is a great opportunity to experience these benefits with your colleagues.”
