The Step2IT group has set their members the ambitious task of virtually ‘walking the world’ by the end of summer next year.
There are 28 members in the group. Fi Sargeant, the brainchild behind the challenge, said: “There should be a few more but we have a few late starters, but those who know me well will know that I won’t give up until everyone is walking with us.”
Jane Thomas, a former nurse and now a manager of one of the services in the new IT team said: “What’s great about this activity is that everyone can join in. Walking is one of the most simple forms of exercise there is but it is also one of the most effective, and for lots of reasons. I’m not going to go into a lecture about how good it is for you, only to say that it’s good for health of mind and body, and it’s also a terrific way for building team camaraderie. Although it’s brought out the competitive spirit in a few of us. I’m loving being a part of the whole challenge – and yes, I have been known to be a bit competitive as well”.
The two charities benefitting from the groups adventures were specifically chosen so that any monies raised could be shared equally across the county, and they are Friends for Mental Health in East Kent and Friends for Mental Health in Kent and Medway.
Paul Melia, one of the newest members of the group, is looking forward to joining the fun, he said: “You’d be amazed at the amount of conversation going on in the building about this. People asking how many steps they’ve done today, comparing their achievements and working out ways they can fit more walking in during the day. I felt I was missing out on a lot of fun so I’ve joined the group to not just to become more healthy, although that’s a huge part of it, but also to be a part of the fundraising fun.”
The group are also supporting their own trust's health and wellbeing work ethos by promoting their challenge to other members of staff, encouraging them to find their own way of joining in the fun.