Wigan and Leigh runners celebrate getting active every day for a month

The Wigan and Leigh Running Community on Facebook challenged its 700 members to get active every day in June.

They had to commit to running or walking at least a mile daily and share their activity online, for the chance to win a host of prizes.

The task certainly caught the attention of the group’s members, with around 100 people deciding to take it on.

Jodie Danner, from Swinley, who runs the group with four friends, said: “It went brilliantly. We had 82 people complete it. I think we had 100 people enter in total, so only about 20 have missed a day. I was only expecting a handful of people to do it, so it’s more than I expected.

“We have had some people who hadn’t run before and started at the beginning who completed it. We have had some lovely testimonials saying it’s given them something to get out of bed for.”

Jodie, 38, was among those taking part, having decided to start a “streak” of running every day shortly before the challenge began.

“I have never done a streak before but I have managed to do 10k nearly every day. I think I’m going to carry on,” she said.

The group hoped the challenge would improve the physical and mental health of participants, as well as reinforce community spirit during the coronavirus pandemic.

People who took part reported how much they enjoyed running every day, the miles they covered, weight they lost and the sense of community they felt.

One woman, who committed to walking every day, said it gave her a reason to get out every day, whatever the weather.

Everyone who completed the challenge was entered into a prize draw for items donated by local fitness businesses, including biomechanical assessment, personal training sessions, a sports massage and vouchers.

AC Forklifts sold T-shirts for the finishers and donated £2.50 from each one to Wigan and Leigh Hospice, raising £225.

The challenge proved to be such a success that there are already plans to hold it again.

Jodie said: “We will definitely do it again because the response we have had exceeded our expectations.

“We might do it in October. We will learn from how we have done it this time and make sure we have medals made up and various other things. Hopefully with lockdown over we could have a party at the end.”

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