Twenty-five years of wellbeing walks in East Staffordshire were celebrated at Meadowside Leisure Centre in Burton upon Trent on Friday, March 20.
The centre, run by award-winning operator Everyone Active in partnership with East Staffordshire Borough Council, welcomed 70 people to mark the success of the ongoing free programme.
These included the Mayor of East Staffordshire, Cllr Kim Smith BEM, as well as past and present volunteer walk leaders and walkers from 13 weekly wellbeing walks, who all enjoyed a 2.5km walk and celebration buffet.
The Health Walk concept was invented in 1996 by Oxfordshire GP William Bird MBE, who organised short walks for his patients to help them get active and aid recovery after an illness or operation.
Four years later, the Countryside Agency and the British Heart Foundation launched the Walking the Way to Health Initiative and wellbeing walks are now an established method of exercise around the country.
In East Staffordshire, volunteer walk leaders deliver 12 daytime walks throughout the year from various venues across the Borough and during the summer months, a weekly evening walk from Stapenhill Hollows.
For further details, please click here or phone 01283 372970.
Joanne Smith, Everyone Active’s health activity and wellbeing officer, said: “It was fantastic to celebrate 25 years of wellbeing walks in East Staffordshire and to welcome those who have benefitted from the scheme.
“This initiative has had a really positive impact on the health and wellbeing of the local community and we hope it will continue to do so for many years to come.
“We would urge anyone interested in these free, fun and friendly walks to contact us for more information.”
Cllr Kim Smith, Mayor of East Staffordshire, said: “It was great to meet all those involved in the wellbeing walks and hear stories from those who have benefitted from this scheme. It has been a fantastic initiative for the last 25 years and one I hope will continue for many more years to come.”
Cllr Paul Walker, Cabinet Member for Tourism and Cultural Development, added: “It was a great turnout to mark the success of this free programme, one that has a really positive impact on the health and wellbeing of our local community.”