Our Opinion – Walking the walk

Silly dance moves, lunchtime walks and stamping feet while seated at desks have become part of daily life at the Hibiscus Matters office since all five of us signed up to take part in the STEPtember challenge.

Wearing a pedometer, and having a goal of taking at least 10,000 steps per day, has brought out the competitor in all of us, as well as making us aware how many steps go into an average day. Walks are being fitted into the working day wherever possible and after hours there is a big focus on getting those numbers of steps up as high as possible.

It turns out that you take quite a lot of steps doing regular activities around home and any additional activities including gardening, kickboxing and Pilates all count.

For some of our Stepping Matters team it’s a way of kick starting a change in lifestyle and we’re all hoping that our fitness improves, however the main goal is to raise money to help people with cerebral palsy.

STEPtember is the first national fundraiser for the Cerebral Palsy Society of NZ. The organisation’s modest target of 3000 participants in this first year was exceeded, with 7000 signing up – including 100 on the Hibiscus Coast.

Our team is working hard to reach the target number of steps. Anyone can sponsor our efforts, anytime in September, by dropping a donation for the Cerebral Palsy Society of NZ into the box in our office in Tamariki Plaza, Orewa or donating online, steptember.org.nz (look for the Stepping Matters team). We would very much appreciate your support.