Heart Month Walking Challenge 2010

Each year thousands of Heart Month volunteers across the province canvass door to door in support of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia. This year, we want to find out how far Heart Month volunteers walk during this special month.  


Photo courtesy of Ellen Pettipas, Walkabout Leader in Bridgewater

Join the walking challenge and from February 1 to February 28, 2010, log the steps you accumulate from canvassing and daily activities in the Heart Month walking challenge walking group on the Walkabout website. All participants will be entered into a draw to win cool prizes, including a Heart and Stroke Foundation CPR AnytimeTM Family & FriendsTM Kit, jackets, Swiss Army watch, reflective armbands, pedometers and more!

When Heart Month volunteers log their steps in the Heart Month challenge walking group, we’ll be able to estimate the number of steps and distance logged throughout the entire month of canvassing. Funds raised during Heart Month support vital heart and stroke research and health promotion initiatives.

Read more about joining the challenge below.

How do I participate?
What is Walkabout?
Prizing
How to track your steps
For more information


How to join the challenge

Once you’ve signed up to be Heart Month volunteer this February, keep track of the steps you accumulate in the Heart Month Walking Group on the Walkabout website. You’ll be entered into a draw for fun prizes and help us find out how far 4,000 plus volunteers walk during Heart Month

1.     Log-in to the Walkabout website. If you’re not already a member, it’s free to join!
2.     Join the “Heart Month 2010” walking group (find it under the “Groups” section of the Walkabout website once you are logged in).
3.     Between February 1 and February 28, 2010, track your steps using a pedometer or a step-distance conversion. Log your steps throughout the  month on the website and see how far you travelled – as an individual and as a group.


What is Heart&Stroke Walkabout?

Heart&Stroke WalkaboutTM is a program to help build a culture of walking in Nova Scotia. It provides resources to support walkers and communities trying to integrate walking into daily life. Through the Walkabout website (www.walkaboutns.ca), Nova Scotians can connect with, and message, other walkers, join walking groups or create their own, log steps and monitor progress, find or map walking routes in their community, and access pedometers and resources on walking.

Walkabout is about inspiring a walking culture and supporting individuals and communities to be active. It is led by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia in partnership with the Nova Scotia Department of Health Promotion and Protection and the Ecology Action Centre. Walkabout is also supported by Pfizer, the presenting sponsor, Nova Scotia Department of Health, Pharmasave, and Great West Life.


Win Great Prizes

Prize Package A:
Swiss Army Watch
Heart and Stroke Foundation mug
Heart&Stroke WalkaboutTM pedometer
Heart&Stroke WalkaboutTM reflective wrist band
 Prize Package B:
Heart and Stroke Foundation CPR AnytimeTM Family & FriendsTM Kit (learn CPR in just 22 minutes)
Heart&Stroke WalkaboutTM pedometer
Heart&Stroke WalkaboutTM reflective wrist band 

Prize Package C:
Heart&Stroke WalkaboutTM zip-up sweater (Women’s size large)
Heart and Stroke Foundation yoga mat and bag
Heart and Stroke Foundation mug
Heart&Stroke WalkaboutTM pedometer
Heart&Stroke WalkaboutTM reflective wrist band

All Heart Month volunteers who join the Heart Month 2010 walking group on the Walkabout website and track their steps in February will be entered into a draw to win one of three cool prizes, which could include a Heart and Stroke Foundation CPR AnytimeTM Family & FriendsTM Kit, jackets, Swiss Army watch, reflective armbands, pedometers for yourself, friends or family, and more!

All prize packages, valued at $100 or more, will be randomly drawn at the beginning of March, 2010. The prizes are provided courtesy of existing Heart and Stroke Foundation promotional event items, including Heart&Stroke Big Bike, and from Walkabout promotional items, which are made possible through Walkabout sponsors. In order to be considered in the draw, you must be a member of the Heart Month walking group on the Walkabout website, log steps throughout the month, and be a registered Heart Month volunteer.


Ways to track your steps

1. You can track your steps using a pedometer.

  • If you already have a pedometer, you can use your own.
  • Borrow a pedometer from your local library or C@P site through Walkabout’s pedometer lending program.
  • If you are walking with someone who uses a pedometer, use their step-count as an indication of the distance you walk and record that on the Walkabout website.
  • Pedometers can be purchased at cost through the manufacturer, StepsCount, for a special rate of $8.95 (plus tax & shipping) if you indicate you are with Heart&Stroke WalkaboutTM. Contact Steps Count: 1-866-342-2328 or email info@stepscount.com.

2. You can estimate the number of steps you walk by tracking your distance. There are approximately 1,315 steps in a km for the average person. For example, if you walked 5km, you would have logged 6,575 steps (5 X1,315).

Remember, you can keep track of your steps when you canvass and throughout the day as well!


For more information:

About Heart Month volunteering:
1-800-423-4432 ext 3330 or contactus@heartandstroke.ns.ca

About the walking challenge:
1-800-423-4432 ext 3346 or walkabout@heartandstroke.ns.ca

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