We are committed to promoting physical and mental wellbeing. To support this, we held the ACG Step Up Challenge in July, inviting all colleagues — and, where appropriate, those in our care — to participate by walking as much as possible during the month.
The challenge was made more engaging with the Stepup app, a free tool that tracks your steps and lets you compete with friends and colleagues.
So, we want to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone who participated in the challenge. Your achievements were nothing short of phenomenal. The number of steps logged and the determination displayed by all participants was really great to see.
We collectively walked an astounding 17,216,738 steps, translating to a total of 7,825.79 miles. To put this incredible achievement into perspective, we covered the distance from our central office in London all the way to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam! Well done to each and every one of you!
Now that the official challenge period has ended, it doesn’t mean the walking has to stop. The Step Up app remains free to use, so we encourage you to continue tracking your steps. You can also create your own mini-teams within the app, adding a fun and competitive element to your daily walks with colleagues.
The benefits of staying active
It’s well-established that physical activity significantly enhances overall mental health, reducing stress and anxiety. So, keep lacing up those comfy shoes and get out for a walk whenever you can. Your body and mind will thank you!
Throughout the challenge, a variety of prizes were awarded every week to the top performers in each group — ACG group, care in the home, case management, north and south regions. These prizes ranged from branded goods to wellbeing candles, books, and bubble baths. Congratulations to all our prize winners!
Our top 10 steppers
Everyone who took part did a phenomenal job racking up those steps. But a special congratulations to the ten people who did the most steps across all teams.
They are:
| Name | Total steps | Avg daily steps | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Victoria Hill, Senior Accounts Payable Clerk | 1,042,738 | 33,636 |
| 2 | Becky Jones, Learning Management System Assistant | 728,605 | 23,503 |
| 3 | Natasha O'Grady, Internal Communications Officer | 721,225 | 23,265 |
| 4 | Karen O'Leary, Clinical Practice and Development Sister, Lane Fox Remeo Respiratory Centre | 512,994 | 17,689 |
| 5 | Sarah Blanch, Group Policy Manager | 498,084 | 16,067 |
| 6 | Karen Langton, Chief People Officer | 491,938 | 15,868 |
| 7 | Julie Holmes, Client Administrator, Care and Case Management Services | 475,698 | 15,345 |
| 8 | Sara Brown, Marketing and Events Executive | 456,314 | 14,719 |
| 9 | Anne-Marie Weston, Compliance Manager, Jane Lewis | 436,109 | 14,068 |
| 10 | Karen Liddle, Support Worker, Granville Lodge | 428,823 | 13,833 |
Becky Jones, Learning Management System Assistant, said: “I enjoyed the step-up challenge very much and it really motivated me to get up earlier in the mornings to enjoy a lovely long walk around the parks and aerodrome that we have nearby. It has helped put me in the right mindset before each day and motivated me to enjoy more exercise being outdoors and more time in the fresh air.”
Sarah Blanch, Group Policy Manager, said: “Having my dog Arlo means we walk several miles most days, so I used the Step Up Challenge to mix up our routes and walk new places. Luckily, we live in lovely West Yorkshire so have miles of canals to explore. The evening walks have been my favourites and by slowing down our pace to appreciate our surroundings I got to chat to people on boats, see some amazing wildlife that I might have otherwise missed and get to know our local area better.”
Vikki Hill, Senior Accounts Payable Clerk, said: “I have always enjoyed going out for walks and this was one of the main reasons why we bought a caravan in the lakes, and for the past 10 years we go there every weekend and school holidays. We have created some fantastic memories for my daughter, and she has now got a healthy relationship with exercise and has also like myself got a love and appreciation for the outdoors. As well as walking with my family I also enjoy a good solo walk or to, this is so I can put my headphones listen to what I want and go where my feet take me, this is a great time for me to self-reflect on the days events and clear my headspace for what is to come over the next few days.”
Sara Brown, Marketing and Events Executive, said: “I walk regularly anyway, but I like how the competitions within work push you that bit further. Walking for me is great for clearing my mind and letting go of the busy day.”
Once again, thank you all for making the ACG Step Up challenge such a resounding success. Stay safe, stay active, and let’s keep stepping up together!
