Final push for fitness campaign

IT was a huge target which was sure to put Suffolk's walkers through their paces.

Walking the equivalent of the distance to the moon was an ambitious target but it is now firmly in sight and we're hoping the Eagle will have landed by Christmas.

And to give the campaign a final boost, why not walk your way into shape for the festive season?

At Suffolk County Council's public transport unit, one of the sponsors of the Walk to the Moon campaign, staff are still clocking up the miles.

Co-ordinator Peter Lee said: “It might be winter now, but there's no reason to stop walking.

“In fact with Christmas coming up, there is the ideal motivation to walk a bit more to get yourself in shape.”

He urged people going to Christmas events to consider walking one way - ideally in a group.

“If a group of you are going to a party in the town centre from a particular part of town, why not get together and walk in and then get a taxi or bus home at the end of the evening.

“That way you'll save petrol, get a bit fitter, and not have to worry about drink-driving,” he said.

Walkers have now completed more than two thirds of the journey from the earth to the moon - nearly 158,000 miles.

Among the teams still logging their steps are Ipswich Council's staff who now have to walk further into the town centre from their new offices at Grafton House opposite their county colleagues in Russell Road.

An Ipswich council spokesman said: "We are still keeping up the challenge to support the Walk to the Moon Campaign. This has lead us to providing lunchtime running and walking groups to help keep our staff fit and healthy."

So don't give up. Use the next few weeks to walk into shape for the Christmas period - and walk off all those Christmas parties with strolls wherever you are.

We can still reach the moon by the end of the year - and start 2007 feeling fitter than ever.