Canberrans are a generous bunch – but what if your good deeds could also help you feel better and fitter, too?
Steptember offers a ‘win-win’ for participants by raising important funds to support people living with cerebral palsy while also helping you to increase your fitness levels and develop healthy habits.
Run by Cerebral Palsy Alliance (CPA), Steptember challenges people to take 10,000 steps a day for 28 days during September while raising money for a great cause.
Last year the ACT raised $510,000 through Steptember. Matthew Carmody, ACT Partnership Manager CPA, said funds raised are used locally to provide equipment, exercise programs, respite, research and data analysis, as well as technology and innovation.
With the countdown on to this year’s event, on 3-30 September, organisers are keen to get more teams involved, especially corporates and government departments.
Mr Carmody said “government departments have friendly competition especially about who raises the most” while a lot of the businesses also come up with their own ideas to increase engagement in Steptember from morning teas and trivia nights, to dollar matching what their employees do.
“This is our one major fundraising event for the year,” Mr Carmody said. “It is extremely important for people with families that live with Cerebral Palsy.
“We have got over 500 families in the ACT and surrounding areas being supported by Cerebral Palsy Alliance.”
As “Australia’s leading health and wellness charity event”, Mr Carmody said Steptember promotes teamwork and competition, is inclusive, and can help create healthy habits “that last longer than the event”.
Data from previous events suggests that at its completion, participants are more motivated to exercise, a percentage lost weight, while it also inspired others to maintain fitness habits.
Not into walking? There are plenty of ways to reach your daily step count with over 40 different activities able to be converted to steps.
Registrations are now open and costs $25 per adult and $10 each for children. When you register, you will receive a Steptember kit which includes a pedometer to count your steps.
For more information or to sign up, visit www.steptember.org.au
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