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University to take part in 1000 Miles Challenge

23/04/2018

Staff and students are being encouraged to walk, ride, run and swim to donate 1000 miles to the NHS as part of its 70th birthday celebrations.

The NHS turns 70 in July and, in the run up to the milestone, is encouraging people to get active in whatever way they like to take part in the national #NHS1000Miles Challenge.

The University’s Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing is supporting the initiative and asking people to log their miles and ‘donate’ them.

The idea is the University will donate our collective effort as a birthday gift to the NHS.

The first 52.4 miles have been donated by Professor of Sports Psychology Andy Lane, who completed the Boston Marathon on 16 April and a week later the London Marathon on 22 April 2018.

Sharon Arkell, Director of the Institute of Health, said: “We’re logging our miles - walking, running, swimming, horse riding, buggy pushing (anything counts!) – as our collective birthday gift to the NHS. Everyone can do their bit as part of existing or new activities – whether you’re running a marathon like Andy or walking between University buildings.

“Everyone has personal experience of the NHS and the fantastic people who work there. As a University, we have numerous staff members who are former NHS workers and we have close working relationships with our partner Trusts which provide essential work placements for our students – who go on to become valued employees.

“This is our way of saying ‘happy birthday and thank you’ to the NHS while getting active at the same time!”

You can share your successes by using the hashtag #WLV1000miles.

Staff and students can donate their miles each week by emailing their totals to: WLV1000miles@wlv.ac.uk

For more information please contact the Corporate Communications Team.

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