A Chance To Live
Health campaign grows in strength with new support
A HEALTH campaign by The Northern Echo is being extended with a new partnership in Sedgefield.
Working closely with Sedgefield Borough Council, the newspaper aims to tackle the area's high rates of coronary heart disease and obesity which are among the worst in the country.
A Chance To Live campaign was launched in 2000 after the newspaper's deputy chief photographer, Ian Weir, suffered a fatal heart attack aged only 38. He had waited nearly eight months for a triple heart bypass operation.
The Northern Echo initially called for speedier treatment for patients who needed heart bypass surgery, but after huge progress the focus switched to persuading people in the region to lead healthier lifestyles.
Through A Chance To Live, people in Sedgefield will be encouraged to eat sensibly, take regular exercise, stop smoking and look after their hearts.
Council staff will lead by example by taking part in Sport England's Million Mile Challenge, and want residents to join them by walking, running or cycling as many miles as possible in ten weeks.
To encourage all generations to take up physical activity, the authority will launch a marketing campaign featuring a sporty family.
The Champions family will direct residents to a website featuring local sport and fitness clubs.
And the authority will continue to encourage young people to exercise regularly by hosting school sports festivals.
Brian Allen, chief executive of Sedgefield Borough Council, said: "We recognise the importance of increased physical activity to the health of residents of the borough but we know we cannot do this alone.
"This is why we have been working in partnership with the primary care trust and schools towards the delivery of the joint physical activity strategy, strands of which will be rolled out over the coming weeks and months."
The move follows similar partnerships in Wear Valley and Darlington.
Peter Barron, editor of The Northern Echo, said: "We are committed to promoting activities which will improve public health and I am delighted that Sedgefield Borough Council is our latest partner in this important campaign."
9:47am Thursday 29th June 2006
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