Challenge to ditch the car, get active and raise money for charity

Thursday 11 May 2023

A new fundraising initiative aims to promote the benefits of active travel while raising funds for Guernsey Chest and Heart's work to support people with their cardiac health.

The challenge is to replace twenty or more car journeys with cycling or walking between 15 May and 14 July.

Participants will be offered a free body composition scan at the launch event on 14 May, with a second scan at the end of the challenge to measure the health benefits. 

You can sign up after the launch event.

“The 20 in Two Challenge is designed to help support islanders who want to get more active and who don't often use their bikes or walk for transport,” said Holly Lindsay from the Guernsey Bicycle Group.

“We've tried to set this as a realistic goal that's achievable over the two months without making radical lifestyle changes. Some journeys make loads of sense by bicycle or on foot, but it's an easy habit to fall into driving for every journey. This is a fantastic opportunity to establish new active travel habits and raise money for a brilliant but underfunded local charity at the same time.”

The entry fee is £15, directly supporting Guernsey Chest and Heart. Anyone aged 16 or over, or younger people with parents' permission, can take part.

The challenge is a joint effort between the Guernsey Bicycle Group, the not-for-profit dedicated to getting more people cycling as part of everyday life, and Guernsey Chest and Heart LBG, a charity providing a free health screening service.

It is sponsored and supported by PWC and Oi.

Walking and cycling is seen as one of the most cost-effective and easiest ways of embedding physical activity into daily life, and improve cardiovascular health, strengthen muscles and bones, and reduce stress. Active travel reduces traffic congestion and air pollution.

Doctors recommend adults do a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week, such as a brisk walk or cycle, to reduce risks of major illnesses like coronary heart disease, strokes, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. 

Studies have suggested the weekly exercise target can lower the risk of early death by up to 30%.

Julie Jones, Guernsey Chest & Heart LBG Centre Manager, said: "Charitable donations are the lifeblood of our organisation as without them we cannot continue to provide our vital free contribution to the island's health. The pandemic had a major impact on our funding, which means we have limited resources to call upon to keep going, so the support of the Guernsey Bicycle Group couldn't have come at a better time. It's also an ideal fit for us as they are promoting exercise that really helps support good cardiac and respiratory health."

The Chest and Heart's annual running costs exceed £100,000. It relies exclusively on voluntary support from the public, private individuals, corporate bodies and various groups and organisations.

Anyone can donate directly to Guernsey Chest and Heart via the event page. 

Event information and signup details can be found at: https://race-nation.co.uk/register/guernsey-bicycle-group/20intwo

For more on GBG visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/guernseybg/ or https://www.gbg.org.gg