Aiming to walk 1 million steps to raise money for diabetes charity

To mark National Diabetes Week this year (10-16 June), staff in Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust’s Diabetes Service aim to walk at least 10,000 steps a day to raise money for Diabetes UK.

Six members of the Trust’s DESMOND Team have signed up to the ‘One Million Step Challenge,’ an initiative that has been launched by Diabetes UK and is to run from 1 July to 30 September.

Alex Kennedy, Angela Caunce, Nurjahan Selant, Susan Latham, Jane Cochrane and Sabina Patel from the DESMOND Team based at the Minerva Health Centre in Preston are taking part in the challenge to show that increasing steps can have a positive and healthy effect on people’s lifestyle and help manage long term health conditions.

Each week thousands of people in the UK suffer heart attacks, heart failures and strokes, undergo amputations and develop blindness because of diabetes. By managing their diabetes well, people can avoid life-threatening complications and remain healthy.

Alex Kennedy, Diabetes Education Coordinator at Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust, said:

“We can’t wait to start the challenge and complete one million steps over three months. Being more active has a positive impact on all factors relating to diabetes complications and has additional benefits to overall health. As educators we want to be seen as ambassadors to encourage this.”

Diabetes Week is held every year to raise awareness of diabetes. The Trust’s DESMOND Team were recently awarded ‘Team of the Year’ by the National DESMOND programme and are encouraging people to attend one of their DESMOND sessions to learn more about the condition and how being more active can help.

DESMOND (Diabetes Education and Self-Management for On-going and Newly Diagnosed) is a national programme designed to support people living with Type 2 diabetes. The programme is a way to find out more about diabetes and to share experiences with others.

If anyone with Type 2 diabetes is interested in joining the DESMOND programme they can either be referred by their GP or contact the DESMOND office directly on 01772 777620 or email desmond@lancashirecare.nhs.uk.