Diabetes Australia Walk to Work Day is just four weeks away and organisers are saying "no more excuses!”. With one Australian diagnosed with type 2 diabetes every eight minutes there has never been a better time to get walking and start on the path to a healthier workplace and a healthier you.
Now in its 19th year, Walk to Work encourages employees and employers to build walking into their everyday lives – not just on Friday 6 October 2017, but every day
Walking meetings, walking to and from work, taking a walk at lunchtime, and using the stairs instead of the escalator or elevator are just some of the ways you can start. You also have the opportunity to help raise vital funds for Diabetes Australia.
Diabetes Australia CEO Professor Greg Johnson said while family history and cultural background play a strong role in risk of type 2 diabetes - the risk is greatly increased if people are inactive, sedentary or overweight.
"With around 280 Australians developing diabetes every day – diabetes is the single biggest challenge facing Australia’s health system. Walking is one of the best ways to help people reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes. It also helps people who have type 2 diabetes manage their condition,” he said.
Prof Johnson said employers can play an important role in encouraging their staff to build walking into their daily routine.
"Employees who walk regularly are generally more productive, have less stress and are less likely to be sick or absent. Companies like Energizer Australia have partnered with us this year to demonstrate their dedication to the health of their employees. We hope more will follow,” he said.
Pedestrian Council Chairman Harold Scruby said: "Taking positive steps to reduce sedentary behaviour and prevent type 2 diabetes can also reduce other risk factors like stroke, heart disease and various types of cancer.
"Let’s not make any more excuses - no more ‘due to a previous engagement’. Most of us can walk at least 1km to and from work, set the alarm 30 minutes earlier and create a great example for all Australians. Regular walking helps relieve feelings of depression or anxiety and improves our environment by reducing car dependency and traffic jams - best of all walking is free!”
ENDS.
For media information, images, interviews contact Xuan Vo from littlelion communications on 0415 880 808 | xuan@littlelion.com.au
For information about diabetes contact Taryn Black from Diabetes Queensland on 0409 504 524 | tblack@diabetesaustralia.com.au
WTWD STATE PR CONTACTS:
VIC: Elissa Doherty from Truth Agency on 0409 994 433 | elissa@truthagency.com.au
NSW: Nina Ravenscroft from AVVISO PR on 0410 868 435 | ninar@avviso.com.au
QLD: Belinda Glindemann from Belle PR on 0411 119 000 | belinda@bellepr.com
ACT: Hannah Walker from Morris Walker on (0402) 378-269 | hwalker@morriswalker.com.au
WA: Hayley Sarre from Detail Marketing Communications on 0449 202 945 | hayley@detail.com.au
TAS: Adrian Smith from Corporate Communications on 0417 529 826 | adrian.smith@cctas.com.au
SA & NT: Xuan Vo from littlelion communications on 0415 880 808 | xuan@littlelion.com.au
Walking regularly is the simplest and most practical way of increasing your daily exercise. Now is a great time to put your feet first and step into spring and build walking into your daily routine.
| facebook.com/walktoworkday | facebook.com/DiabetesAus | |
| @w2wd | @DiabetesAus | |
| @wtwd | ||
| Official hashtag | #walktowork2017 | #walkfordiabetes |