Politicians count steps as well as votes in election campaign
[20 April 2005]
Britain's politicians are being challenged to take a healthy
living message with them on the campaign trail when they are
canvassing in their constituencies. In the run-up to the
election the Ramblers' Association (RA) is recruiting
prospective MPs to wear a pedometer to highlight the benefits of
walking.
Health is at the top of the agenda in this election, and the RA,
the country’s largest charity working to promote walking, is
asking parliamentary candidates to take the lead in showing
people how to take positive action to improve their health.
Candidates who accept the RA’s challenge of 10, 000 steps a day
will be given a pedometer as they pound the pavements in their
constituencies and will be recording their success, or
otherwise, as they go.
Chris Smith, the former MP for Islington and current President
of the Ramblers’ Association, said, "Walking is not just
enjoyable and fun; it's also the very best way to get some
exercise, blow away the cobwebs, and keep fit and healthy. Any
candidate worth their salt is going to jump at the chance of
taking this message out in a visible form with their pedometer
clocking up the canvassing miles."
Doctors recommend we walk at least 10,000 steps daily for better
health, but for many of us working in sedentary jobs this goal
is often difficult to achieve. In fact many people struggle to
clock even a third of this distance. Walking may not seem like
real exercise yet it puts other sports to shame when it comes to
health benefits. It's low impact, low cost and can be done
almost anywhere and can be easily adapted for even the busiest
lives.
The RA has devised a 10-week walking plan, Take 30, to allow
people who many not exercise currently or who do little
exercise, and want a common-sense programme that does not demand
masses of time or money, to help them loose weight and get
fitter.