Hadfield Infant School staff taking steps to raise charity cash

Staff at Hadfield Infant School are walking 10,000 steps every day in March to raise money for Cancer Research. 

Each staff member is counting their daily steps and keeping a tally on a white board in the staff room at the Mersey Bank Road school. 

To achieve the target, staff are urged to: 

1. Get out and about at lunch 

Lunchtime is a great way to get away from the desk and get in some steps with colleagues. Instead of spending your whole break at your desk, spend half the time going for a walk. Just 15 minutes of movement can log 1,000 steps. 

2. Take the stairs 

Ditch the escalator or lift and take the stairs. An average flight of stairs has 10 to 12 steps so it's an easy way to squeeze in an extra few steps. 

3. Set a timer 

If you spend most of the day at a desk, set a timer every hour to get up and take a walk. It’s also a good reminder to fill up your water bottle and stay hydrated! 

4. Get off a stop earlier 

Why not get off a stop earlier on the train or bus when commuting to work or meeting friends to get some extra steps? 

5. Convert your exercise into steps 

A 45-minute fitness class can clock in over 5,700 steps! Find a class you enjoy while getting your steps in to be halfway to your daily goal. 

6. Catch up with friends 

Instead of going for a coffee with friends, take your catch up outside and go for a walk. It’s also a great way to discover new places in your local area! 

7. Park further away 

Every couple of hundred steps of walking to or from your car quickly adds up. An easy one if you do need to take the car. 

8. Convert household chores 

Tick off your weekly chores while getting in your daily step count. Your weekly 30-minute food shop clocks in at 2,000 steps and an hour of housework scores you on average 4,800 steps. 

9. Go for a dog walk 

If you don’t own a dog, you can always volunteer to walk your friends or neighbours. The average person will get in 4,000 steps for one 30 minute walk. 

10. Walk and talk 

Take your business calls on-the-go, or skip the conference room and have walking meetings with your colleagues. 

The school staff take part in the annual event each year. 

Teacher Joanne Lowe said: "We are all doing our very best. We’re keeping tally of our daily steps on a graph in the staff room.

"The children kickstarted the fundraising by each bringing £1 to school on 1 March. We’re really hoping we can all achieve our 10,000 steps a day and hope to be able to donate a good amount to Cancer Research. Last year we gave them over a thousand pounds." 

Listen to Joanne speaking to our reporter Gill Garston below...