Get Fit and Receive a Free MP3 Player

Published on 1 July 2009

Epping Forest District Council’s Walking for Health Scheme, Lifewalks has been given the opportunity, with the help of funding that the Sports and Health Development Team received from Age Concern East via The Big Lottery, to put eight of the Lifewalks routes in an audio format. The audio routes will be available to download from July on the Council’s website.

The aim is to encourage people who may not have been able to attend the organised Lifewalks to go and do a walk on their own or with friends and family. The audio walks are voiced by Karen Williams the Lifewalks Co-ordinator, who will give details of each walk including distance, level, when to walk a little faster and directions as you go. She is accompanied by Tricia Moxey a local naturalist and botanist who provides the local history of the area and the local wildlife as you take your brisk walk.

If you are wondering if walking would really do you any good, the answer is ‘Yes’.

A brisk walk a few times a week can:
• halve your chances of developing coronary heart disease
• lower your blood pressure
• cut the risk of having a stroke by 60%

People who have been taking part in Lifewalks say they are:
• walking faster
• sleeping better
• feeling less stressed
• finding walking up stairs and hills easier
• generally more healthy

To get fit and receive your free MP3 player, already downloaded with the one Lifewalk route, you should call Karen Williams on 01992 564222 and leave your details. A diary of walks and registration form will be sent to you. Fill the registration form in and bring it with you to the specially-led audio walk at Gunpowder Park on Wednesday 8 July 2009 at 9:30am and the first 50 walkers to be registered on the day will receive a free MP3 player. The two-mile walk will start at 10am.

The Council’s Sports and Health Development Team is providing other projects for the over 50s using the above funding. These include physical activities and healthy eating sessions that cover a wide area including Epping Forest, Harlow and Uttlesford. For more information, please call David Hogg the Active Health Development Officer on 01992 564269.

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