We all know the amazing benefits that walking can have for your health but the BBC today reported that brisk walking could prevent cancer.

In a recent report experts from the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) have claimed that about 10,000 cases of breast and bowel cancer could be prevented each year in the UK if people did more brisk walking. For example, data suggest 45 minutes a day of moderate exercise could prevent about 5,500 cases of breast cancer.

Scientists at WCRF claim that “it is the total time spent being active that is important. You do not need to set aside half an hour each day to exercise. Shorter bouts of activity will be just as beneficial as long as they add up to the same”.

The other health benefits of walking are numerous, with regular walking being proven to improve fitness, combat obesity (a known cancer risk factor) and aid weight loss. On top of the health benefits walking is free and a simple way to fit in every exercise. 

Their head of science, Dr Rachel Thompson, said by making small changes to their daily routine people could achieve significant health gains.

“There is now very strong evidence that being physically active is important for cancer prevention.”

“Even relatively modest increases in activity levels could prevent thousands of cancer cases in the UK every year.”

“These figures also show you do not have to go to the gym every day to benefit.”

Don’t let something like this get you down! Come out and enjoy a nice walk with Jen, Netty and the rest of the GWKW Manchester Crew. Our fantastic group of volunteers will transform that dull day into a bright happy one!

Contact 0161 232 3101 for information on local walks near you, or view them on here under “Local Programmes”.

 With an estimated three million overweight and obese children in the UK, childhood obesity is one of our most serious health problems. Not only is it damaging our children’s health and quality of life, it also has huge financial implications for the NHS. To raise awareness, MEND and the National Obesity Forum have joined forces to launch National Childhood Obesity Week, in which Move it Week plays a vital role.

 Encouraging children to keep fit and healthy through walking is at the heart of Get Walking, and we are  proud to support Move it Week and National Childhood Obesity Week.

 Useful links

See how MEND can help in a variety of ways

This is brilliant news and proof that folk really are taking the first steps to fitting walking into their everyday lives.

Look out for a brand new on-line logbook which we’ll be launching towards the end of the summer.

The Birmingham event will take place on 24th July at 6:00pm, in Centenary Square. The London event will be taking place at the Mayor’s Newham Show in Central Park, High Street South, East Ham on 17th July at 5:00pm. If you can’t make it along on the day you can see the finished results on the huge hoarding around the new site of the Library of Birmingham from 5:30pm August 1st, and at Stratford Station from October 2010.

To register for the events please visit: www.walkingasone.net

To see more of Adam Magyar’s work, including the picture above in full, visit: www.magyaradam.com

The image above is a section of one of Adam’s previous works, Urban Flow #1075, London

The findings were extremely positive as well as very useful to feed back into the project as a whole.

Here are a few highlights:

• Training and support got an overwhelming thumbs up from nearly all those responding, who also felt very much part of a team.
• Age-wise, almost half the responders were in the 55-64 slot, while 25-34 year olds formed less than 2%.
• The male / female split was 30:70.
• Just over half were Ramblers members.

The rewards of volunteering include:

• introducing others to the pleasures of walking
• meeting people from different cultures
• giving something to the community
• Seeing people benefit  from exercise and social contact
• Seeing people develop and grow

Thank you to all who took part.

The full survey and data can be found here.

And, if you’d like to become part of the team, Get Walking offers a number of different volunteer roles.

 As 11am drew nearer, the crowd gathering by the sparkling lake in Victoria Park grew larger and the sun grew hotter… After a stroll through the park, with Get Walking’s David and John at the helm, we snaked our way along Regent’s Canal, causing one or two long bicycle-jams, but everyone was very good-natured…we think… We then headed for the 2012 Olympic area, which surpassed our expectations, with amazing views of the stadium and the rest of the site. The hottest day of the year, we’d definitely earned a break at the new Olympic café, before making the return journey. I confess, at this point, I became a true lightweight and sneaked of to get cool, leaving everyone else to enjoy the walk back!

It wasn’t just a walk – it was a Visual Poetry event too! Local artist, Charlotte Mew got us all to tie tags to objects of interest along the way so they could be photographed and later developed into a story. I caught up with a young mum and her son, George, who was so captivated that he used all my tags as well as his own and his mum’s!  It was clear that as well as enjoying the walk, everyone was spotting things they wouldn’t normally notice, from bizarre signs and beautiful flowers to graffiti and weird sculptures.

We are pretty sure we have tempted at least 60 people in East London to discover the joys and benefits of walking!

Jeanette Cole, Communications Officer

The initiative of Sustrans, (the UK’s leading sustainable transport charity), Change Your World is about individuals making a small change which collectively makes a difference – in this instance, less traffic, cleaner air and quieter streets.

The aim is to clock up enough miles to travel round the world (that’s 24,900 miles!) So, Get Walking!

Visit Change Your World to pledge your local journey.

Rebel Rambling is the newest addition to the underground London Walking scene. It’s a collaboration of the Get Walking Keep Walking Ramblers and Step Out in London! http://www.livingstreets.org.uk/index.php?cID=262
Sharing our love of walking in London with a touch of mischief making and fancy dress to the beat of a drum.

We brought a little bit of Country life to Londoners by setting up a community hall as a village fete with bunting and balloons and served Pimms, soft drinks and fairy cakes.

Participants where asked to come along dressed as stereotypical ramblers, with Bobble Hat, beard and rucksack. Bobble and bearding making stalls where provided for participants to get the look.

The Rebel Ramblers then set out equipped with beards, bobbles balloons and bubbles on a lead walk through The Cut and down to South Bank accompanied by a drumming Samba Band.

Onlookers danced and joined in with the beat as they enjoyed the summer sun in beer gardens and open green spaces, children peered out from flat windows clapping and cheering. Passengers in passing cars put thumbs up and gave big smiles and even London buses stopped to see us pass by.

The Rebel Ramblers encouraged passers by to join in and get walking!
Once the drumming and walking stopped the thirst was recognised and the Rebel Ramblers set off to sample some of the local drinking establishments.

• Ramblers-Rangers Taster Walk
• Smoothie Bike
• Henna Art
• Indian Head Massage
• Free Health Checks by Health Exchange
• Fun Planting Stall
• BeActive
• Fruit Stall
• Worm Digging and Pond Dipping with OPAL

All are welcome so bring your friends and family. Bring a picnic and enjoy a relaxing day in the park.

Address: Sarehole Mill and Shire Country Park, Colebank Road, Moseley, B13 OBD.

Click here to see the full poster