Organisers are inviting Nottinghamshire businesses of any size to get signed up in June and to encourage their employees to enter. The challenge will officially begin on Sunday 20 June, to coincide with this year’s Great Nottinghamshire Bike Ride, and the start of National Bike Week. The Challenge will run for four months until the end of October 2010.

The Wilson Organisation in Nottingham has already pledged to sign up to the Shape Up Notts! Workplace Challenge.

Charlotte Prow, Managing Director of The Wilson Organisation commented: “The Workplace Challenge is a fantastic way to encourage our employees to become more active, whilst helping to reduce CO2 emissions. Naturally, we’re all really competitive and everyone is really motivated to do well again this year. We’re really looking forward to the start of the Challenge so that we can get logging our activity points”.

A series of photo calls will take place around the County on Wednesday 2 June to launch the Challenge. See bottom of release for further details.

Any sport, physical activity or active travel undertaken by employees involved in the Challenge will be recorded online at www.sportnottinghamshire.co.uk. Points will be awarded based on activity, length of session and intensity. Additionally CO2 reduction will be calculated for any trip made by walking or cycling that would otherwise have been made by car.

This year, prizes will be awarded to the organisations that score the highest number of points, the highest average number of points per employee, the largest CO2 reduction and the largest average CO2 reduction per employee. There will be four prizes to the value of £2,000 this year, which the winning businesses can use towards improving the infrastructure within their organisations for active commuting. 

Partners are urging businesses around the County to get signed up in advance of 20 June, in order to recruit as many employees as possible and build up points at the start of the Challenge.
 
Simon Starr, director at Sport Nottinghamshire said, “The Shape Up Notts! Workplace Challenge is a great way to get your business and your employees fit and healthy.  It’s a really fun way for colleagues to get active, as well as delivering benefits to the organisation through improved productivity, boosting morale and lowering absenteeism.

“By logging your sport, physical activity or active travel onto www.sportnottinghamshire.co.uk you can score points for your organisation and be in with a chance of winning some top prizes. We want as many people as possible to be more active, whether by playing more sport, cycling to work or just going for a walk on the weekend.  By setting up this Workplace Challenge with key partners to find Nottinghamshire’s most active businesses, we can deliver a wide range of outcomes to individuals, to businesses and to the environment.

“Businesses can use the Workplace Challenge to set up inter-departmental activities or even individual rivalry and can link it into social activities that help in team-building such as a rounders game followed by a barbecue.”

Cllr Jane Urquhart, Portfolio Holder for Transport and Area Working at Nottingham City Council said: "We are delighted to be involved in this project and we want to encourage businesses and their staff to take up more active travel options to help support our sustainable travel strategy and the Decade of Better Health campaign.

"As well as walking and cycling for the whole journey to work, people will be encouraged to think about how they could make their bus, tram or rail journeys more active by making use of the cycle parking facilities at Park and Ride sites, rail stations, NET stops and the new parking being installed at key bus stops along the Ecolink, NCT36 and Indigo bus routes. Also the Walkit journey planner features a circular journey planning function, ideal for planning a local walk."

There’s a strong emphasis in the Workplace Challenge to encourage employees to leave the car at home and either cycle or walk to work, which is an excellent way of building exercise into your daily routine whilst helping to reduce CO2 emissions.

Luke Barley, Transport Coordinator at the Energy Saving Trust commented: "We are delighted to be a partner in the Shape up Notts! Workplace Challenge. Cycling is a great way to keep fit, reduce CO2 emissions and save hundreds of pounds a year on fuel. The challenge fits in perfectly with our efforts to promote a positive and low carbon lifestyle in and around Nottinghamshire".

Gary Smerdon-White , Chair of Greater Nottingham Transport Partnership added: “The challenge is an excellent way of getting more companies to enjoy the benefits of a healthy workforce. Not only does it help employees become more energetic and productive but it can help reduce congestion and carbon emissions”.

To sign up for the Shape Up Notts! Workplace Challenge and to start logging your activity go to www.sportnottinghamshire.co.uk and follow the Workplace Challenge links. To find out more about the Challenge and how it could benefit your business, go to www.thebigwheel.org.uk/challenge.

If you are planning to go along to any of the photo calls, please contact Chris Simon at Perfect Motion on 07973807339 or Ria Kennerley at Sport Nottinghamshire on 07855 580 920.

Photocall schedule
9am – The Wilson Organisation, The Wilson Organisation, Wilson House, 1/3 Waverley Street, Nottingham, NG7 4HG

11am – Oak Tree Leisure Centre, Jubilee Way South, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, NG18 3RT

1pm – Solway Foods, Manton Wood Enterprise Park, Worksop, Nottinghamshire, S80 2RS

3pm – Staythorpe Powerstation, Staythorpe Road, Staythorpe, Nottinghamshire, NG23 5PS

A brand new mass participation open water swimming event is set to launch in the East Midlands this summer.

The popular Midlands Championships at Bosworth Water will now feature open races in the afternoon on 11 July, named the East Midlands Big Swim.

Swimmers in the East Midlands Big Swim will have the option to wear wetsuits and compete in 500m or 1000m distances. The event is specifically aimed at novices and inexperienced open water swimmers of all ages, and will feature the usual BBQ and festival atmosphere that swimmers enjoy each year at the Midland Open Championships.

The Championships will go ahead as usual in the morning, featuring Junior, Senior and Masters events. The aim is to entice parents and supporters to have a go themselves following the championship events.

Swimmers will have access to wetsuit hire through event partners, blueseventy, who will be offering 20% off the price of a wetsuit to entrants at www.blueseventy.com. All competitors will receive a free t-shirt and finishers will receive a medal.

East Midlands Regional Director, Roger Glithero said: "this is an opportunity to experience open water swimming in the heart of the midlands at one of the best open water venues in the country.

"The water is relatively shallow, meaning it's nice and warm. We're offering people the option of wearing a wetsuit or whatever suitable swimwear they'd like to wear.

"One of the big benefits of Bosworth Water is that the lake is fairly small so you're never too far from the sides. Spectators can walk right around the lake so it feels very friendly and safe.

"There are places for 500 people to take part and we will open the offer to local triathletes as well as swimmers and the general public. It promises to be a fantastic day!"

Entry is available through www.eastmidlandsbigswim.com.

We are all well aware that fuel prices have hit a record high recently, and they are accelerating fast. When making daily journeys to work, the rising cost of fuel often puts a strain on people's pockets, as well as increasing greenhouse gas emissions in Nottinghamshire.

With summer finally here, organisers of the Great Nottinghamshire Bike Ride are encouraging the people of Nottinghamshire to saddle up this summer and make more journeys using their bikes.

Whether it is a short trip to the shops, a longer commute to work or a leisurely weekend ride with family or friends, cycling is a great way to stay in shape, helps to combat serious illness and can even give you the fitness levels of someone 10 years younger.

Dr Ian Trimble, Chairman of the Professional Executive Committee for NHS Nottingham City, which is partnering the Great Nottinghamshire Bike Ride this year, said: "Cycling to work is not only better for the environment but it is a great way to stay fit and healthy. You could start by setting yourself the goal of cycling to work once or twice a week – and progress from there. This is an ideal way to build regular exercise into your weekly routine."

As well as improving your health and fitness levels, helping you to beat the rush-hour traffic and saving you money, getting around by bike helps to cut greenhouse gas emissions, making it kinder to the environment.

Lucy Grierson, Marketing Manager at The Big Wheel added: "As well as being a great way of keeping fit and healthy, cycling is good for the planet, helping to reduce carbon emissions which contribute to global warming. By reducing the volume of road traffic, cycling cuts air and noise pollution and in turn helps to protect the environment. Try this cost calculator to see just how much money, and CO2 emissions, you could save by using the car less: http://www.liftshare.com/calculator.asp".

The Great Nottinghamshire Bike Ride, organised by Nottinghamshire County Council is an ideal stepping stone into cycling with a route to suit all ages and abilities. It features a 5k family lap challenge, an 18 mile Community Ride, a 50 mile Challenge Ride and a Sportive route of around 75 miles.

To sign up, simply log on to www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/bikeride, call 08449 808080 or pick up an entry form from your local county library.

There's only one week to go until the Glasgow Bikeathon 2010, organised by Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research. If you haven’t signed up yet, it's not too late – advanced entry is open until this Friday (21 May). Just go to www.bikeathonbritain.co.uk/glasgow to sign up.

The Bikeathon offers two predominantly rural routes – either 13 or 26 miles. The 13 mile route is a flat, scenic route which is aimed at casual riders and the 26 mile route is aimed at the more experienced cyclist.

Both rides start and finish at the historic Drumpellier country park, in North Lanarkshire, between Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Yvonne Dickson, Fundraising Manager for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research in Scotland is urging people to sign up and get on their bikes this weekend in aid of the charity. She said: "If you haven't signed up for the Bikeathon already, it's not too late. We’re due to have a glorious weekend of sunshine, and what better way to enjoy it than getting out on your bikes and enjoying the beautiful scenery that Glasgow has to offer, whilst doing your bit for charity.

 "Last year, we raised just under £30,000 to help fund vital research in Scotland but this year, we want to increase entries in the hope that we can raise even more money. So if you haven’t signed up already, log on to www.bikeathonbritain.co.uk/glasgow and come along and join us for a fun filled weekend."

Formerly known as Leukaemia Research, Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research has recently changed its name to better reflect the work it does. New statistics from the charity show that blood cancers have increased by over 16 percent in the past 20 years and currently, 28,500 people in the UK are diagnosed with blood cancers every year.

Yvonne added: "We changed our name because many people didn’t realise our role in supporting research into all blood cancers. We wanted to raise awareness of our longstanding commitment to research into lymphoma and myeloma – as well as leukaemia".

To sign up before the weekend, simply go to www.bikeathonbritain.co.uk/glasgow, email glasgowbikeathon@llresearch.org.uk or call 0131 669 7862. Entry on the day will also be available, with more details available at www.bikeathonbritain.co.uk/glasgow.

People are being urged to join the Great Nottinghamshire Bike Ride to boost their mental health – as well as their physical health.

Cycling is an excellent way to get fit, get fresh air and improve your state of mind.

The Great Nottinghamshire Bike Ride takes place at the National Water Sports Centre at Holme Pierrepont on Sunday 20 June 2010. It is being organised by Nottinghamshire County Council in partnership with NHS Nottingham City.

Nick Judge, Commissioning Manager and Clinical Adviser for Mental Health at NHS Nottingham City, will be taking part in the bike ride for the second time this year.

He said: "When people think of exercise they think of the benefits to their physical fitness - but being active plays a crucial role in mental well-being too.

"Exercise makes you feel good - it releases hormones that stay in your system, improves blood flow to your brain and can help you sleep better. All of these give you a more positive frame of mind, reduce stress and relieve anxiety.

"Cycling has the additional benefit of getting you out and about - perhaps into the countryside, where fresh air and a change of scenery can add to your mental well-being.

"By signing up for the Great Nottinghamshire Bike Ride, people can make a commitment to really achieve something – giving a significant boost to my well-being.

"Whether it's the family lap or the longer challenges, people can get so much out of the event. When I took part last year, I enjoyed the physical exercise but had so much fun too – and finished with a real feeling of accomplishment."

This year, the Great Nottinghamshire Bike Ride will feature a 5k family lap challenge, an 18 mile Community Ride, a 50 mile Challenge Ride and a Sportive route of around 75 miles. To sign up, simply log on to www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/bikeride, call 08449 808080 or pick up an entry form from your local county library.

A young lymphoma survivor, and a local radio presenter from Edinburgh will be dusting off their bikes in two weeks time to raise money for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research.

16 year old Stuart Reid, of Midlothian, will be joined by his friends to take part in Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research's Bikeathon on Sunday 23 May. Over 400 people got on their bikes to take part in the first ever Scottish Bikeathon organised by Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research in 2009, and this year, event organisers are hoping to increase participant numbers to help raise even more money for the charity.

Stuart is taking part in the bike ride to give something back to the charity after he was diagnosed with Non Hodgkin's lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system, at just ten years old.

Stuart's mum, Helen described how the diagnosis changed life for the whole family. She said: "When Stuart was diagnosed with the disease at such a young age, it was like being hit with a brick. He is our only child and the thought of losing him was devastating for me and my husband. He had such an aggressive form of lymphoma, that both myself and his dad took time off sick so that we could be with Stuart 24 hours a day.

"He is now in remission, but he still has to attend a neurology clinic as he suffers severe headaches, and he will also have to have checks every four months for the rest of his life at the haematology clinic. His diagnosis has completely changed out outlook on life – we all live for the day and embrace life now, and family is definitely the most important thing to all of us".

She added: "Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research is so close to our hearts. If it hadn't been for the research funded by the charity, Stuart might not be here with us today. He's no different to any other normal teenager, but things could have turned out so much differently.

Stuart commented:  "I want to take part in the Bikeathon this year to help raise awareness of leukaemia and lymphoma, and to contribute to the charity’s research that will hopefully one day find a cure".

The Bikeathon offers two predominantly rural routes – either 13 or 26 miles. The 13 mile route is a flat, scenic route which is aimed at casual riders and the 26 mile route is aimed at the more experienced cyclist.

Both rides start and finish at the historic Drumpellier country park, in North Lanarkshire, between Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Forth One presenter, Grant Stott will also be taking part in the Bikeathon for the second time this year, in memory of his lifelong friend, Moray Fotheringham. He commented: "Once again I’ll be part of Team Moray, who are, predominately, a bunch of mates from school who lost our friend to acute myeloid leukaemia, aged just 36.  We did the Bikeathon last year and most of us are back to do it again this year.  It’s our way of doing something to remember our mate and hopefully raise money to help others who suffer from leukaemia and lymphoma."

Yvonne Dickson, Fundraising Manager for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research in Scotland has high hopes for this year’s Glasgow Bikeathon. She said: "Last year, we raised just under £30,000 to help fund vital research in Scotland but this year, we want to increase entries in the hope that we can raise even more money.

Whether you're looking for a physical challenge, a fundraising challenge, or quite simply a fun day out, why not join us this year and do your bit for those affected by blood cancers".

Formerly known as Leukaemia Research, Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research has recently changed its name to better reflect the work it does. New statistics from the charity show that blood cancers have increased by over 16 percent in the past 20 years and currently, 28,500 people in the UK are diagnosed with blood cancers every year.

Yvonne added: "We changed our name because many people didn't realise our role in supporting research into all blood cancers. We wanted to raise awareness of our longstanding commitment to research into lymphoma and myeloma – as well as leukaemia."

It's not too late to sign up – all you need to do is visit www.bikeathonbritain.co.uk/glasgow, email glasgowbikeathon@llresearch.org.uk or call 0131 669 7862. Entry on the day will also be available.

A young lymphoma survivor, and a local radio presenter from Edinburgh will be dusting off their bikes in two weeks time to raise money for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research.

16 year old Stuart Reid, of Midlothian, will be joined by his friends to take part in Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research's Bikeathon on Sunday 23 May. Over 400 people got on their bikes to take part in the first ever Scottish Bikeathon organised by Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research in 2009, and this year, event organisers are hoping to increase participant numbers to help raise even more money for the charity.

Stuart is taking part in the bike ride to give something back to the charity after he was diagnosed with Non Hodgkin's lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system, at just ten years old.

Stuart's mum, Helen described how the diagnosis changed life for the whole family. She said: "When Stuart was diagnosed with the disease at such a young age, it was like being hit with a brick. He is our only child and the thought of losing him was devastating for me and my husband. He had such an aggressive form of lymphoma, that both myself and his dad took time off sick so that we could be with Stuart 24 hours a day.

"He is now in remission, but he still has to attend a neurology clinic as he suffers severe headaches, and he will also have to have checks every four months for the rest of his life at the haematology clinic. His diagnosis has completely changed out outlook on life – we all live for the day and embrace life now, and family is definitely the most important thing to all of us".

She added: "Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research is so close to our hearts. If it hadn't been for the research funded by the charity, Stuart might not be here with us today. He's no different to any other normal teenager, but things could have turned out so much differently.

Stuart commented:  "I want to take part in the Bikeathon this year to help raise awareness of leukaemia and lymphoma, and to contribute to the charity’s research that will hopefully one day find a cure".

The Bikeathon offers two predominantly rural routes – either 13 or 26 miles. The 13 mile route is a flat, scenic route which is aimed at casual riders and the 26 mile route is aimed at the more experienced cyclist.

Both rides start and finish at the historic Drumpellier country park, in North Lanarkshire, between Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Forth One presenter, Grant Stott will also be taking part in the Bikeathon for the second time this year, in memory of his lifelong friend, Moray Fotheringham. He commented: "Once again I’ll be part of Team Moray, who are, predominately, a bunch of mates from school who lost our friend to acute myeloid leukaemia, aged just 36.  We did the Bikeathon last year and most of us are back to do it again this year.  It’s our way of doing something to remember our mate and hopefully raise money to help others who suffer from leukaemia and lymphoma."

Yvonne Dickson, Regional Manager for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research in Scotland has high hopes for this year’s Glasgow Bikeathon. She said: "Last year, we raised just under £30,000 to help fund vital research in Scotland but this year, we want to increase entries in the hope that we can raise even more money.

Whether you're looking for a physical challenge, a fundraising challenge, or quite simply a fun day out, why not join us this year and do your bit for those affected by blood cancers".

Formerly known as Leukaemia Research, Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research has recently changed its name to better reflect the work it does. New statistics from the charity show that blood cancers have increased by over 16 percent in the past 20 years and currently, 28,500 people in the UK are diagnosed with blood cancers every year.

Yvonne added: "We changed our name because many people didn't realise our role in supporting research into all blood cancers. We wanted to raise awareness of our longstanding commitment to research into lymphoma and myeloma – as well as leukaemia."

It's not too late to sign up – all you need to do is visit www.bikeathonbritain.co.uk/glasgow, email glasgowbikeathon@llresearch.org.uk or call 0131 669 7862. Entry on the day will also be available.