The pupils at St John’s School, Mortimer are ready to Beat the Street
The three villages of Mortimer, Pangbourne and Theale are setting off for the moon this Thursday June 26 in a challenge funded by the local NHS to get the whole community more active.
Beat the Street, a real world walking and cycling game designed to increase physical activity levels, will take place from 26 June-22 July 2014 in the villages.
The project has already been run in Reading where over 13,000 residents walked 180,000 miles in just over one month. The remaining target is 58,000 miles and Mortimer, Pangbourne and Theale will compete against each other to see who can walk the furthest.
The project is funded by the NHS North and West Reading Clinical Commissioning Group to promote healthier lifestyles. Chair of NHS North and West Reading CCG Dr Rod Smith said: “Much like other areas of the country, we wanted to do something to combat the growing threat of obesity and diabetes here in the North and West Reading CCG area. We decided to fund the Beat the Street initiative as it offers a fun and competitive way of encouraging people to do physical exercise.
“While falling short of the target of walking to the moon, Reading’s participants did a sterling job of getting involved. The baton is now being passed to the residents of Pangbourne, Theale and Mortimer who are invited to register and to walk a combined total of 58,000 miles.
“A number of schools and GP surgeries have already registered teams and we’re inviting anyone else who lives or works in the area to get involved with the latest phase of Beat the Street.”
To play, residents pick up a Beat the Street card from a local GP practice, local library or business.
Tracy Audsley, Mortimer resident and mum of pupils at the infant and junior schools said: “I think Beat the Street is a brilliant idea. It brings walking to the forefront in a fun positive way. I love the idea of the challenge to get all ages involved. Come on Mortimer!”
The card activates when tapped against a Beat Box from 26 June; tapping another within the hour records the journey. Players can win prizes for themselves and their community team by using their Beat the Street cards. They are able to monitor their progress via a secure website
reading.beatthestreet.me. LEGO have provided a host of prizes for schools and local businesses have donated many prizes for the adults taking part.
Pangbourne Greys Cheese Shop Manager, Angela Brown, said: “I am so excited Beat the Street is coming to Pangbourne. My daughter and granddaughter adored playing it in Reading and wouldn’t stop talking about where they were going next and how they could get more points. Now we can all play in the village and I can’t wait!”
Last modified on Wednesday, 25 June 2014 12:35
