A health programme to encourage walking for the population of Disley has received the backing from the local Member of Parliament, David Rutley.
“Healthy Steps” is the brainchild of the Schoolhouse Surgery in Disley’s Patient Participation Group. The initiative aims to promote the considerable health benefits of walking for the local population. It has the full support of the GPs and all the Practice staff and is aimed at all age groups and abilities.
To launch the initiative, the surgery have planned walks in Lyme Park on the afternoon of Wednesday 4th March, starting at 1pm. One longer walk will start from the Surgery, proceeding up Red Lane and into Lyme Park. Another, shorter accessible walk, will start in the main car park in Lyme Park with the community minibus providing transport to and from the village.
David Rutley is particularly enthusiastic about the scheme, as the co-chair of the All Party Group for Mountaineering. David, in this capacity, has been calling on Ministers to develop a national strategy for Outdoor Recreation, which will help improve the health and wellbeing of people across the country.
Speaking ahead of the launch, Dr Andrew Maurice from the Schoolhouse Surgery said, “I'm hugely enthusiastic about the whole idea - an initiative conceived by the patients for the patients, encouraging the local population to take healthy steps towards improved well-being.
“There are significant benefits to be gained from walking for around 30 minutes five times a week, but anything is a start and can be built upon. Walking has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus and coronary heart disease. Increasing levels of simple physical activities leads to a reduced risk of many cancers and can improve the survival rates for those already living with the disease. Walking has been shown to lower the levels of physical symptoms of anxiety associated with stress.
“Everyone is aware the Health Service is under considerable pressure for a wide variety of reasons, but taking some simple "Healthy Steps" can make a considerable difference in so many different ways.”
David Rutley MP added, “The health benefits of walking are well established. It's inexpensive and broadly accessible. I am very pleased to be able to support this important initiative, and I hope that similar programmes are introduced across the country.”