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Walk around the world in 42 days
HEALTH workers went around the world in 42 days in an attempt to boost their fitness levels.
Staff from all of the NHS Trusts across the Tees Valley, including Hartlepool, walked more than 28,000 miles between them.
Around 115 employees from the trusts recorded a total of more than 57 million steps in just 42 days covering a distance of 28,715 miles, which is the same as walking around the world.
The challenge was completed in a bid to get active and the walkers were put into teams and competed against each other to see who could walk the most miles.
Participants in the challenge each wore a pedometer to clock their miles and they were surprised at how quickly their step count increased, by just walking around doing every day tasks.
The winning team, who won with an incredible 3,946,366 steps, was "Happy Feet" led by Gail Humphrey.
Scott Lloyd, health improvement specialist for North Tees Primary Care Trust, said: "The results show a huge improvement in physical activity amongst our staff and the challenge has created a buzz throughout the organisation.
"A team pedometer challenge is an excellent way to encourage physical activity through the work place.
"Physically active individuals are off work sick 27 per cent less, which is one of the many benefits that an employer can gain from implementing a work place health programme.
"The challenge was part of our drive to achieving bronze level of the North East Better Health at Work Award, which any employer in the region can work towards with support from the NHS."
Employers across the Tees area keen to start workplace health activities can email scott.lloyd@northteespct.nhs.uk for more information.
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Weather for Hartlepool
Saturday 04 February 2012
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