Blue Mountains Gazette - 9 September 2009
© Blue Mountains Gazette
The National Heart Foundation Walking program is being successfully implemented in Blackheath with Blackheath Walkers completing three years of fitness, friendship and fun. This community program, now called Heart Foundation Walking, is initiated by community members and supported by Blackheath Area Neighbourhood Centre (BANC). The purpose of this program is to promote both regular exercise and create an activity for people within the community to enjoy with each other. Walking with a group is more social, it is less ‘have to’ and enhances the enjoyment of the activity which provides a motivation to continue. There are many benefits of regular physical activity. These include lower blood pressure, improvement in wellbeing, improvement in both energy and cholesterol levels and in the management of diabetes. Getting fit and healthy should not be a chore. If you want to have fun, be fit, make new friends. And it’s free to come and join in. In over three years some members of the group have had hip replacements and returned to walks in eight weeks due to their fitness level. Others have holidayed overseas together taking part in walking in the Cotswolds, also in the Peak District and the Derbyshire Dales. Some have taken part in the City to Surf and The Seven Bridges Walk. A few will be competing in the World Masters Games in Sydney in October this year. Other shave travelled to Russia Europe Cap Your and many other corners of the world. The group meets at Jubilee Park each Monday at 8.30am. After the weekly Monday walk, walkers are encouraged to bring their morning tea and hear holiday talk. It is a good chance to mix with the entire group. And holidays are another opportunity to walk in stunningly beautiful places (other than the Upper Blue Mountains of course). The Wednesday evening twilight walk take place after daylight saving time commences in October. An information session will be held at Blackheath Area Neighbourhood Centre on Thursday, September 10 at 2pm. For further information contact Judy on 0400 391 508 Or 4787 7684 or BANC on 4787 7770
