Get a team together and ‘walk’ to Rio

The challenge is open to all West Sussex workplaces, and runs from April to the end of June.

The aim is to encourage adults to take up more physical activity. From walking to football, dance to swimming, all exercise is converted into miles and takes teams on their virtual route from London to Rio. They just need to log all activity on the website, or the smart phone app.

The first team to reach Rio, as the next Olympic city, will win £250 in vouchers. There are many other prizes to be won as well along the route.

Just bring together a team of five colleagues and sign up to the website at www.reachingrio.org

The workplace challenge is supported by the West Sussex Health and Wellbeing Board.

It is recommended that adults aim to achieve 150 minutes per week of moderate intensity physical activity. Reaching Rio encourages adults to be physically active, and converts that activity into miles so taking them on the virtual journey.

People who do regular physical activity have a lower risk of many chronic diseases, such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, strokes and some cancers.

It can also boost self-esteem and mood, as well as reduce the risk of stress, depression and dementia.

West Sussex County Council’s Director of Public Health and Wellbeing Judith Wright said: “With the role for public health having moved to local authorities, the Health and Wellbeing Board is keen to encourage as many West Sussex workplaces to sign up to Reaching Rio as possible.

“The benefits of regular physical activity are numerous, and we should all try and aim for 30 minutes physical activity on five or more days a week.

“The Reaching Rio challenge encourages teams to take up exercise and is fun for the workplace – you don’t need to be an Olympic athlete to take part, and there are prizes to be won along the way.”

The challenge is open to all. On joining, participants are asked to complete a lifestyle survey. The amount of miles they achieve per activity is then weighted depending on how active or not they currently are, which means that no one has an advantage over anyone else.

The website also has fun features including a virtual map of the route to Rio de Janeiro, a leader board, bonus sports points available to be won, and calorie burn statistics.

To find out to more or to register a team, visit www.reachingrio.org.