This National Walking Month, Active Humber is taking part in various challenges to raise funds for different charities who are close to our hearts. Walking is not only good for your mental and physical health but it is also a free and fun activity, plus it’s also inclusive for many people to join in with and a great way to catch up with friends.
David Gent, our CEO, will complete a 13 mile walk for Alzheimer's society on May 24 to raise money for charity and promote the value of walking to offset the effects of Alzheimer’s.
Our marketing manager, Lucy Playford, is taking on the challenge to walk 100 miles in May as part of We Walk for Yorkshire, raising funds for Yorkshire Cancer Research.
Lucy’s challenge shows how powerful small steps can be – for your health and for a great cause.
This month our Active Humber team is out exploring the countryside, getting their steps in to boost fitness and enjoy the physical and mental health benefits of staying active.
Jake Haylett, our Digital Content Officer, says: “Living in a city means I can’t walk out my door into green space. So I make sure to venture out into the East Yorkshire countryside at least a couple of times a month.”
Additionally, each Monday some members of our team take a 20-minute walk during lunch to stretch our legs and soak up some fresh air. It’s a great way to recharge and stay focused for the rest of the day.
We’re also proud to support Living Streets’ campaign and Fitmums & Friends to help more people discover the benefits of walking.
Walking is one of the easiest ways to improve your health. Research shows that just a 20-minute walk each day can lift your mood, increase energy levels, and help you focus.
To encourage people to get moving, Living Streets has launched the #Try20 challenge. The goal is simple: walk for 20 minutes every day in May. You can track your progress on their website and download a free challenge checklist to share with family, friends, or colleagues. It's a fun and easy way to stay motivated and see who can tick off the most walking tips this month.
We're also celebrating a new initiative from Fitmums & Friends, who have created a walking group especially for people with a learning disability (aged 16 and over). This new group aims to provide safe, supported opportunities to be active and social.
Free, guided walks take place every Thursday at 9:30am in East Park, meeting outside the café. These sessions run during school term time, and free parking is available. Participants are also encouraged to take part in local parkruns, which welcome walkers of all abilities. This helps them continue building healthy habits and connect with their community.
Sadly, adults with learning disabilities are far less likely to be active. Over 40% are classed as inactive*, and this has a real impact on their health and life expectancy. Initiatives like this aim to change that by making activity more accessible and enjoyable.
*Source: Sport England Active Lives adult surveys
