London, ON – In late September the residents of London were challenged to add at least five minutes of physical activity to their daily routine. Today, Middlesex-London in motion™ announced that more than 1,600 people responded to that challenge and logged over 2 million minutes of physical activity, wildly exceeding organizers’ expectations for the initial year. The in motion™ Challenge has proven to be a great way to raise awareness about the importance of physical activity while encouraging people to get active; something organizers hope will continue long after the Challenge has wrapped up. While the greatest number of participants was active in downtown London, some participants logged activity that took place in locations as far afield as Québec City, the United States, Ireland, Italy and Malaysia. Several local schools were also active, including University Heights Public School and Lord Elgin Public School which had 292 participants combined.

“We’ve had comments from a wide variety of participants who told us the Challenge was the motivation they needed to get active and from teachers who found it a great way to get students to be active at school and at home,” says Mary Lou Albanese, Chair of Middlesex-London in motion™. “We are extremely proud that our first in motion™ Physical Activity Community Challenge was such a great success and that so many children, adults and seniors did their part in trying to make London Canada’s healthiest community.”

While there were almost as many types of activities as there were participants in the Challenge, the majority of those who were active took part by walking or running. One memorable moment from the in motion™ Challenge was when London City Council began one of its meetings with five minutes of yoga.

“From the beginning, we wanted the Challenge to be something that anyone could take part in, regardless of how active they were or their current fitness level,” says Albanese. “We wanted everyone to look at in motion™ as an opportunity to build our community and draw residents together through a common goal. I think we were very successful.”

The in motion™ Physical Activity Community Challenge is a collaborative effort of Middlesex-London in motion™, the broad-based community initiative whose goal is to promote healthy and active living in London and Middlesex County. Plans are already underway to issue the Community Challenge again in 2014.

Media Contact:
Dan Flaherty, Communications Manager, Middlesex-London Health Unit, 519-663-5317 ext.2469 or 519-617-0570 (cell.)

Spokesperson:
Marylou Albanese, Chair, Middlesex-London in motion™