People will be given top tips about getting into and staying in shape - and take part in a city wide fitness challenge - at a special event being organised as part of Working Well Week.

Organisations across the city are coming together to hosting special health related activities at Molineux Stadium at 12pm next Friday (27 March, 2015) - and will be encouraging people to walk a mile around the ground in support of Million Miles for Wolverhampton challenge.

Members of Wolverhampton City Council's Public Health team, the Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals Trust's Healthy Lifestyles Team and Wolves Community Trust will be on hand to offer free advice and support to individuals about living more healthily and improving their fitness, and representatives from Carver's Wolverhampton Marathon will be introducing the events taking place at this September's marathon including, for the first time, a category for walkers.

The Million Miles for Wolverhampton challenge was launched earlier this year on the back of a recent call to action by public health chiefs to individuals and organisations to come together to tackle the obesity crisis facing the city.

It urges people to improve their fitness by completing a mile or more, and adding their contribution to an online totaliser at Type=articles;Articleid=5683;Title=Tackling obesity in Wolverhampton; with the aim that Wolverhampton collectively clocks up 1,000,000 miles. The miles can be completed by walking, running, swimming or cycling.

Everyone taking part in the Challenge walk at Molineux Stadium will be entered into a prize draw, with goodies up for grabs including tickets to Wolverhampton Wanderers matches, a signed Wolves shirt and passes for Wolverhampton City Council's WV Active leisure centres. Places are limited as only 120 people will be able to take part in the walk and so should be booked in advance at Type=links;Linkid=5936;Title=One Million Challenges Event;Target=_blank;.

Councillor Sandra Samuels, Wolverhampton City Council's Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said: "We've had a great response from the people of Wolverhampton to the Million Miles challenge, and I'm hoping that dozens of people will support us by walking a mile around Molineux Stadium at next week's event.

"It will also give people the chance to pick up expert tips and advice about improving their health and fitness, which could have a major impact on their lives - by giving them more energy and reducing the risks of conditions like stroke, heart disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes."

The event is part of Working Well Week, Wolverhampton's drive to improve opportunities, prosperity and health for residents, and also part of the first City Conference Season which aims to raise the profile of Wolverhampton, its people and the opportunities available there.

The full programme of Working Well Week events and activities is available to download at Type=links;Linkid=5921;Title=Working Well Week;Target=_blank;. People can also find out more from Type=links;Linkid=2165;Title=Wolverhampton Today;Target=_blank; or via Twitter using the hashtag #wolvesin2work.

  • released: Thursday 19 March, 2015