Walk around park a success

More than 55 people gathered at Hagley Park at the weekend to take part in a special walk to acknowledge their efforts towards a more active and healthier lifestyle.

‘Walk in the Park’ a five and 10 kilometre walk around Hagley, followed by a shared picnic lunch for participants, was a joint initiative between Sort Canterbury’s Green Prescription team, Christchurch Hospital’s Cardiac Rehabilitation team and the Heart Foundation.

The organisations support people to lead a healthy lifestyle with a strong focus on encouraging physical activity.

Sport Canterbury physical activity manager Linda Wensley says organisers were really excited about the walk because many events, such as the City to Surf, had been cancelled after the February 22 earthquake.

“With the City to Surf being cancelled, we decided to instead run our own event. It was important to create an event where the focus was on being active, having fun and celebrating the great place we live in,” Linda says.

“We also saw it as a way of encouraging our members to push themselves and experience the sense of achievement that comes with going that extra step. I think this was achieved by seeing the smiles on their faces as they made it to the finish line.”

Given the success of the day, organisers are already planning a repeat event in spring and will consider opening it to the wider public.

Christchurch Hospital cardiac rehabilitation nurse Ruth Davison says it was a great event.

“To see people striding out together talking and laughing as they went was magic. Many of these folk have made remarkable improvements in their health by participating in both Green Prescription activities and, for many, Cardiac Rehabilitation as well,” Ruth says.

“For me, the highlight was hearing people’s delight at having made such progress from where they began on their journey to a more active life.”