TODAY'S the day as people around Suffolk blast off on the journey to the moon!The Walk to the Moon was officially due to start at lunchtime today as teams of walkers start the battle to see who can clock up the most miles over the next 12 weeks.

TODAY'S the day as people around Suffolk blast off on the journey to the moon!

The Walk to the Moon was officially due to start at lunchtime today as teams of walkers start the battle to see who can clock up the most miles over the next 12 weeks.

The moon is 240,000 miles from earth and we aim to have 2,000 walkers each completing 120 miles over the summer - that's 10 miles a week.

Health experts recommend we should all try to walk five miles a day so that is not a huge distance.

More than 1,000 people are already registered to take part in the event during the summer - but there is still time for more entries if you are quick.

Peter Blythe, who helped organise the Walk to the Moon on behalf of the Evening Star said: "It's fantastic that around 1,000 people have signed up for this major fitness initiative.

"We hope that all of those people quickly feel the benefits of regular exercise and will be encouraged to step up their fitness regimes with other forms of daily activity.

"I'm sure our teams will be thinking of inventive ways of clocking up the steps. Some might opt for no e-mail days in the office or a ban on using the lift. Please let us know what your ideas are as they may inspire the other teams."

There are great prizes for the teams who walk the furthest, and there is already a determination among some teams to out-walk their own particular rivals.

One sector where there is keen competition is the battle to find which retailers walk the furthest.

Boots in Tavern Street have formed two teams who will be battling each other - while also trying to out-walk Sainsburys staff from the Hadleigh Road superstore.

Other companies to sign up include teams from UKI Partnership, the Jackson group and Ipswich-based public sector organisations.

The Evening Star has several teams entered, each trying to build up the most miles.

But you don't have to be part of a large time to enter. There are entries from families and from small groups of friends.

We can supply Pedometers and special wrist bands to everyone taking part in the walk - details of how to register and get hold of them can be found on our website.

Although the walk officially started today, there is still time to register - but you need to be quick.

We have already handed out most of the pedometers and keen competitors will not want to give their rivals too much of a head start before getting underway with the campaign.

Keep reading The Evening Star for reports on the teams progress - you can also see how you and your rivals are doing through our website.

If you haven't already signed up a team for the Walk to the Moon, you can do so by logging on to www.eveningstar.co.uk/walktothemoon. We will send you a free pedometer and wristband for each team member.

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