Browse Sections

• Education
• Special reports

Best foot forward

30/ 1/2008

STAFF from Rochdale Boroughwide Housing have been bitten by the fitness bug.

On a mission for healthier living, 130 employees have signed up for Fitbug, a scheme that encourages everyone to walk their way to fitness.

Elaine Taylor, personnel and staff development manager, said: “So far we’ve had employees participating in lunchtime walks and monitoring what they are eating from the nutritional values table they have access to.

“The feedback we’ve had suggests that staff are now walking their way to victory.”

All those taking part have been issued with a pedometer to record the number of steps they take each day.

They input their progress online at the Fitbug website where they can also gain tips on nutrition and calculate their activity levels.

Participants are set regular targets, which are tailored to suit their individual needs.

Scheme leaders Carole Langley and Dean Goodall say they feel fitter than ever.

Carole, a data input clerk, has a disability that limits her movement but has lost half a stone through the programme.

She said: “When I first started walking it took me five minutes to walk up a flight of stairs and I couldn’t hold a conversation at the same time.

“Now, I can get upstairs much quicker and I have also lost weight, which is an added bonus for me.”

Dean, a technical officer for the repairs service, has been trying to build himself up to the level of fitness he achieved before an accident in 2006 when he broke his pelvis, elbow and wrist.

He says Fitbug has helped enormously with his rehabilitation.

This month RBH will introduce Fantasy Footfall, a league programme that has teams competing to see who can achieve the greatest amount of steps in a week.