Gavin Williamson, MP for South Staffordshire, visited local walking group, South Staffordshire Health Watch Walks, to meet the 1000th walker in the group’s history.
Thelma Mattison, a Great Wyrley great grandmother, joined the group aged 81 and was surprised to discover she had joined 999 other walkers when she was presented with a framed certificate and flowers by Gavin to commemorate being the 1000th walker to sign up to South Staffordshire Health Watch Walks.
Thelma has joined the Great Wyrley group which is part of South Staffordshire’s Health Watch Walking Scheme that has other groups throughout South Staffordshire. The scheme is currently supported with funds from the South Staffordshire Partnership, a funding initiative involving Staffordshire County Council, South Staffordshire Council, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Staffordshire and the three NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups in Staffordshire, Cannock Chase, Stafford and Surrounds, and the South East Staffordshire and Seisdon Peninsula. It is also supported by the National Walking for Health Scheme, to which it is fully accredited. The National scheme is managed by the Ramblers Association and Macmillan Cancer Support.
The walks themselves are run by various organisations, including local councils, the NHS, charities and voluntary groups. Together, they are ensuring Walking for Health gets even more people active and healthy in the years to come.
Commenting on the achievement Thelma said: “Friends of mine told me about the walks. They help another of our friends to attend and they said how much they all enjoyed them so I joined to also help, keep active and meet people”
The Regional Development Officer, Charlie Coward, said: “Walking for Health is England’s largest network of health walk schemes, helping all kinds of people take their first steps to a more active lifestyle”. The walks are led by volunteers and completely free of charge. They not only help keep people healthy, they are great regular social events, a way to meet people and enjoy a get together.
After meeting the group and presenting Thelma with her certificate Gavin said: “It was fantastic to meet Thelma and present her with a certificate for becoming the 1000th walker. This just proves that at any age we can keep active and enjoy ourselves whilst doing it. This is just one community group that does fantastic work bringing people together and I look forward to joining them for one of their walks in the coming weeks.”
South Staffordshire Health Watch Walking Scheme comprises of a number of small groups which are to be found in each of the 5 District Council Localities so there will be one near you. They are free of charge and you can just turn up at any of the walks but to find more about them go to www.southstaffordshire.thegoodlife.uk.net