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DWP Put Best Feet Forward On Walking Challenge
Giant steps are what you take when participate in the DWP Walking Challenge, it seems. With all the steps now logged from the 171 teams taking part, we can now reveal that they took a giant leap for DWP – they reached the Moon!
All told, nearly 500 million steps were logged during the 105 days of the challenge, which equates to nearly 250,000 miles – easily enough to emulate Neil Armstrong, and take a stroll on the lunar surface.
Alternatively, for those who prefer to keep their feet on the ground, it adds up to 10 complete circumnavigations of the Earth, if you stick to the Equator.
It’s an astonishing outcome to a challenge which has raised over £4,500 for your in-house charity, and which finished to coincide with Fund Week, our annual fundraising extravaganza.
“We’re stunned,” says Fundraising Initiatives Manager Clare Bridges. “We knew the challenge had been warmly embraced by DWP staff but had no idea they would go to such lengths, or maintain such enthusiasm for the event over its duration.
“The DWP Walking Challenge has been a huge success on every level. It’s raised a substantial amount for the Fund, to enable us to get things done for people who are struggling, and it fits perfectly with the wellbeing agenda being promoted throughout the Civil Service, and the physical challenge being encouraged by Sir Gus O'Donnell.”
But of course the big question for many will be this: which team emerged as the champion walkers of the Department for Work and Pensions?
We can now reveal the final top 10, via a Google map:
View DWP Walking Challenge in a larger map
Congratulations to Team Wembley 516, and to all the teams that took part. A special mention too for Aimless Wanderers and the Cofa Terminators, both of whom had led the event at various stages.
A trophy will be presented to Team Wembley 516 soon, and we’ll hope to have more details of their individual efforts then.
In the meantime, it seems as though the end of the challenge has left a bit of a void for some of those who have Tweeted their progress through the event:
“All done. It’s been a blast and I feel much fitter. Feels strange not having pedometer on belt. My constant companion.”
“Bye Bye DWP Walk,” said Joey Ramone, who has also put her step count up for everyone to see.
So the 2011 DWP Walking Challenge is over. The aim now is to find a way of topping that for next year...
Last updated 211 days ago by Jamie Hill