Julia Bradbury: walking makes a real difference
Bargain-hunting walkers can snap up a cut-price offer this month for membership of the country’s biggest walking organisation.
The Ramblers are offering a £1 deal to anyone helping them celebrate Get Walking Day. The first 30 people to turn up to each of its short walks on the day will get a chance to join the charity for the reduced rate.
The saving – £28.50 on the normal annual rate – is being offered as part of the 75th anniversary celebrations of the Ramblers, and is being enthusiastically backed by their new president, walking celebrity Julia Bradbury.
Ms Bradbury, presenter of the BBC Wainwright’s Walks series and regular frontwoman on BBC1’s Countryfile, said: “Dust down those shoes, open your door and get your friends and family out to join the Ramblers on one of our fun, free, festival events. It doesn’t matter how old you are or how much you use your legs, there’s a walk for everyone to enjoy this Get Walking Day.”
“It’s a fantastic, low-cost way to make new friends and make the most of the weekend.”
The £1 membership offer applies to named ‘strolls’ taking place on the weekend of 22 and 23 May. Each walk is no more than 8km (5 miles) and is aimed at getting new walkers involved in one of the easiest forms of healthy exercise.
Ms Bradbury continued: “Accessible to all, walking is a perfect form of exercise. Even walking for half an hour, five times a week, makes a real difference. Make walking part of your life as the more you do, the better you’ll feel.
“Joining in with Get Walking Day is an excellent way to kick start a lifelong love of walking.”
The Ramblers are keen to point out the benefits of walking. A spokesperson said: “Walking is free! In the current economic downturn, the Ramblers welcome anything which is free.
“A mile is under a 20-minute walk and so you could save some pennies walking instead of using the bus or your car.
“Walking keeps your body fit and your mind healthy. Walking burns as many calories as jogging over the same distance. Furthermore it boosts happiness and reduces stress.
“Walking is good for the environment. If we all walk more and use our cars less, we will significantly reduce carbon emissions which contribute to climate change.”
Details of the qualifying Get Walking Day events can be found on the Ramblers’ website. The Ramblers have more than 100,000 members and campaign on walkers’ rights throughout Britain.
