Get out walking with the local Red Cross

THE first Irish Red Cross Healthy Steps walk took place last Saturday in Drogheda. This is just one of 12 Healthy Steps walks which will take place in Drogheda over coming months. Each week a 5 kilometre walk, led by a local Irish Red Cross volunteer will take place along a different route in the area.

These walks are part of a new, national programme being rolled out by the Irish Red Cross under an initiative set up by the Irish Red Cross Health and Social Care Working Group. The Healthy Steps programme aims to establish 10 walking groups around the country and this national initiative has been led by a volunteer with the Drogheda Red Cross branch – and Drogheda native, Paraic McGahey.

The aim of Healthy Steps is to create a low to zero cost initiative which can be rolled out nationwide to address health issues and social problems in Ireland. In particular, this programme aims to address the prevalence of obesity, mental health issues and social exclusion. The programme also aims to create more direct engagement between Irish Red Cross branches and local communities while it also aims to develop community resilience.

Get Ireland Walking have come on board as official partners for this initiative and Louth Sports Partnership have come on board for the Healthy Steps walks in Drogheda.

A very successful pilot of this programme was run in 2016.

The Irish Red Cross Healthy Steps walks will be running for 12 weeks. Each week participants will meet at Drogheda Community Centre at 11am. The walks will be 4-5km in length but the route will vary slightly each week.