Beat the Street

Beat the Street enters its first week

Residents of Calne and Devizes are being invited to take part in a free fun six week challenge this May to go on a journey round the world, and pupils from St Joseph’s School in Devizes and Fynamore School in Calne were the first to get to grips with how it will all work.

Beat the Street is a walking, running and cycling competition which supports healthier lifestyles and helps communities to be more physically active. Last year 39,000 people played in New York, London and Reading and increased their activity levels.

Beat the Street has been commissioned by Wiltshire Council following work carried out by the Calne Community Air Quality Action Plan Group.

Residents can win prizes for themselves and their community team. A share of a £1,500 prize pot is up for grabs for the teams that travel the furthest over six weeks. If the players travel more than 75,000 miles there will be a donation to both Calne and Devizes libraries of £500 each.

To play residents pick up a Beat the Street card from GP practices, the libraries, Calne Community Hub and leisure centres. All schools will also be invited to take part. The competition runs from 6th May to 17th June.

The card works by tapping it against a special sensor called a Beat Box which will be placed on lamp posts across Calne and Devizes on 6 May. The boxes flash and beep to recognise the card. Tapping two boxes records a journey. Players see how they are doing via a website.  Click on Calne or Devizes to see the locations of the Beat Boxes.

Maggie Rae, corporate director, said: “Initiatives such as this help to improve general health and wellbeing for people in Wiltshire by opening up activities to everyone. This is ideal for groups of all ages, and I’m sure it will prove to be a real success in Calne and Devizes.”

Keith Humphries, cabinet member for health, said: “This is informal exercise at its best it’s about doing what you can, when you can. It is all about having fun and aims to help people start or maintain an active lifestyle.

“We hope this will also help improve the air quality in the towns, as it will encourage people to walk rather than using their cars.”

Dr William Bird, founder of Intelligent Health, explains: “We want to see adults and children across Calne and Devizes getting involved in this scheme. Physical activity has a positive effect on 23 long term health conditions including COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), diabetes, and breast and colon cancer. More than that getting out and about in the fresh air is good for mental health, reduces congestion and will allow you to enjoy your beautiful towns.”

Community groups and residents interested in taking part in Beat the Street can email Clare Smale at clare.smale@intelligenthealth.co.uk for more information.