Limerick Sports Partnership encourages people to Keep Well and let’s Get Ireland Walking into 2021

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New Keep Well Walking Challenge to encourage people to walk for 30 minutes every day for three weeks.

Limerick Sports Partnership in association with Sport Ireland, Get Ireland Walking , Healthy Ireland and Limerick City and County Council are encouraging people of all ages to walk into 2021 by taking part in the Keep Well Walking Challenge, which gets underway today (Friday 11 Dec).

The Keep Well campaign is aimed at showing people of all ages how we can mind our own physical and mental health and wellbeing by adding healthy and helpful habits to our daily and weekly routine.

Walking is the most accessible form of physical activity with no special equipment or locations required. Limerick Sports Partnership, Sport Ireland, Get Ireland Walking and Healthy Ireland are looking to get as many people as possible out and active for at least 30 minutes a day for the remaining 21 days of December, bringing a healthy habit forward to the New Year – starting today.

To support this, Get Ireland Walking has produced a new app that will allow users to keep a record of their walking and help all participants to stay motivated. The handy app will provide useful tips on advice on how to build walking into every day routines.

The Get Ireland Walking App can be downloaded at here.

As part of the 21-day campaign, well-known people from across Ireland will share their favourite walk of 2020, whether it is a socially distanced walk with a loved-one or simply a lunchtime escape from the bedroom office.

Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin said: “The benefits of physical activity are undisputed and walking is the most accessible form of physical activity available. I am delighted to say that I will be taking part in the Keep Well Walking Challenge and have already downloaded the app to help keep me motivated and track my progress through the month of December.”

Phelim Macken, Sports Coordinator for Limerick Sports Partnership said: “The Keep Well Walking Challenge will help keep people active right up to the end of the year. We are part of the Keep Well campaign running across the local authority and central government. Exercise is a great way to improve the mind as well as the body. Walking is a brilliant form of physical activity that is accessible to all irrespective of ability. Being active brings so many benefits that you should treat yourself this Christmas.”

John Treacy, Chief Executive Sport Ireland commented: “It is hugely encouraging to see that the levels of recreational walking in Ireland are higher than ever. Physical activity is vital for the health of the nation, mental as well as physical, and one of the positives to come out of 2020 is that people now recognise the importance of physical activity as part of their daily lives. The Keep Well Walking Challenge and the new app will further help walking become part of people’s habits.”

Jason King, National Programme Manager Get Ireland Walking added: “The benefits of walking cannot be underestimated both for individuals and the country as a whole. We really think that the Get Ireland Walking app will help keep people motivated through December, a time when people can become a little less active, and help them approach 2021 in a positive frame of mind and in good health – mental and physical.”

The Keep Well Walking Challenge is part of Keep Well. The Keep Well campaign is aimed at showing people of all ages how we can mind our own physical and mental health and wellbeing by adding healthy and helpful habits to our daily and weekly routines. It provides guidelines, information, and tips on how we can make a plan to do things that will help us keep well through the coming months.

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