NHS staff bid to get city on the
move
Energetic staff from Sheffield’s four NHS Primary Care
Trusts ran the Sheffield half marathon on Sunday 2nd May
2004 in a bid to encourage others to get active.
Simon Gilby, Chief Executive of Sheffield West PCT, Andy
Buck, Chief Executive of North Sheffield PCT, Dr Jeremy
Wight, Director of Public Health for North Sheffield PCT,
John Soady who heads the Sheffield Stop Smoking Service
and Lis Reid, Health Improvement Manager for North Sheffield
PCT, pulled on their trainers to complete the 13 mile course.
They met up with Richard Caborn, MP for Sheffield Central
and Minister for Sport, at the start line to promote ‘City
on the Move’ a new city-wide strategy which aims to get
Sheffield residents more active.
Ruth Granger, physical activity lead for Sheffield West
PCT, said: “You don’t need to run the marathon to get
active! Walking to the shops, kicking a football around
with the kids or dancing are all great ways to enjoy a more
active life. Gardening and walking also help raise the heart
rate which boosts health - remember any exercise is better
than none at all.”
To improve health, doctors recommend taking up to 30 minutes
of activity on five or more days of the week. Being physically
active has a huge number of benefits including helping maintain
a healthy weight and reducing feelings of anxiety or depression.
City residents can currently comment on the ‘City on the
Move’ strategy, which highlights the range of different
physical activities that can help improve health. From employers
to schools and local dance clubs to major sporting venues
everyone is being encouraged to help get Sheffield active.
The strategy is supported by Sheffield First for Health,
a group of health experts made up of representatives from
NHS agencies in Sheffield, Sheffield City Council, the community,
voluntary and faith sectors and the two Sheffield universities.
Its aim is to improve the health of those living and working
in Sheffield. Andy Buck, Chair of Sheffield First for Health,
who took part in the race, said: “Currently only a third
of the city’s population are active enough to see the health
benefits of physical exercise. That means two thirds of
Sheffield residents are increasing their risk of heart disease,
diabetes and some cancers.”
He added: “Lack of physical exercise and obesity are
important public health issues which could have serious
effects on the health our population if we don’t address
the problem now. I am, therefore, delighted to support the
City on the Move Strategy and look forward to its implementation
later in the year.”
Sheffield residents are being invited to comment on the
The City on the Move strategy produced by Active Sheffield
– a multi-agency partnership which aims to boost physical
activity levels in the city.
may 2004
October 02, 2006 
