COLLEGE staff have been fundraising at a pace in a bid to raise awareness around mental health and wellbeing.
The determined dozen from Darlington College clocked up six million steps during November in a Movember challenge that saw them each complete almost 17,000 every day of the month.
So far the epic walks have raised more than £2,000 for Movember UK, a charity that has grown into a global movement promoting men’s health and physical wellbeing.
The intrepid walkers fitted in their steps seven days a week, before and after work, at lunchtimes and the weekends.
Each walker had to complete 16,666 steps every day or face the prospect of having to do even more the following one. Many were completed outdoors, some inside on treadmills.
“We are all supposed to walk 10,000 a day for our health but the extra 6,666 took some fitting in around a busy day,” said HR advisor Claire Bleasdale, of Darlington.
Graphic designer Dan Blom, of Newton Aycliffe, added: “I definitely feel fitter. Fitting the steps in was time consuming but we developed some great camaraderie and it was fantastic to see how generous people were with their donations.”
Additional learning support team leader Bob Simpson, of Barnard Castle, said: “My family and friends took it in turns to join me and it was lovely to go out and have a chat. It was also a mental game knowing that you had to go out the next day and do another 16,666 steps.”
To celebrate, one of their colleagues, sports lecturer Stephen Combe, baked them a huge millionaire’s shortbread enough for 12 people.
