16 May 2006

Stepping out to better health at Dundee University

Photo opportunity: Wednesday May 17 at 2pm at the Tower Building entrance, University of Dundee.

Staff at the University of Dundee are being urged to take a step towards better health on Wednesday 17 May by taking part in a workplace walk around Magdalen Green.

Organised by the university’s Institute of Sport and Exercise, the "10K Steps Today" initiative aims to highlight the health benefits of walking and encourage staff to consider a lunchtime walk as part of their daily routine.

Paul McPate, assistant director at the Institute of Sport and Exercise, said the initiative was designed to help staff work towards a daily target of 10,000 steps and help raise money for diabetes research.

"10000 steps a day is acknowledged as contributing towards a number of health benefits," he said.

"The walk from the Tower Building, round Magdalen Green and back should contribute around 3000 steps to the daily total and should take only about 30 minutes."

"The institute is currently carrying out research on behalf of Diabetes UK into the best way of encouraging people with Type 2 diabetes to do more physical activity and although the 10K Steps Today walk is free we are hoping participants will donate money to Diabetes UK."

Paul added that he was hoping staff would be able to escape their offices, labs and classroom and walk the route together.

"It should be very enjoyable as the views of the Tay Estuary are stunning and Magdalen Green is a lovely space," he said "It is also a chance to raise money for a worthy cause."

The 10K steps challenge is also timed to coincide with the first anniversary of the University’s urban ramblers group which provides lunchtime and early evening walks from the campus to places of interest in the city.

"We’ve had staff from 40 different departments walking 18 different routes and clocking up more than two million steps in the past year," said Paul. "Our summer programme starts this month and we’re hoping the 10K Steps Today challenge will encourage staff to carry on walking."

NOTES TO EDITORS

The 10K Steps Today challenge starts at 10am and finishes at 5pm. Walkers, who will set off from the Tower Building in Perth Road, can complete the walk anytime during these hours.

For further information contact:

Hilary McNally
Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
Tel: 01382 384768
email: h.mcnally@dundee.ac.uk