01 Mar 2007

Pathway to Healthier Lifestyle for UCC Staff

UCC is set to become the first university in Ireland to launch an initiative which will see its staff benefit from a healthier lifestyle.  The new lunch-time walking routes for staff will be launched by UCC President, Dr Michael Murphy today (Thursday, 1 March 2007) at 1pm in the River Room, Glucksman Gallery.

Designed under the Irish Heart Foundations Slí na Sláinte 2 (Path to Health) workplace programme, the aim of the initiative is to provide a simple structure for staff to incorporate physical activity into the working day to the benefit of their long term health and wellbeing.

There are three routes in total- the yellow route which is 1.7km in length, the green route that is 2km in length and the red 3.4km route. They have all been designed around a easy to follow loop system of varying lengths to allow any person, no matter how little time they have at lunch, to exercise. The routes which take in the lovely surroundings of the Mardyke Gardens, Fitzgerald's Park and, of course, the UCC campus have been complimented by new motivational Time to Walk signs which have been erected at the Western Road pedestrian gates in UCC, the gates into the car park at Aras na Laoi and the gates into Brookfield Health Sciences Complex.

Speaking at the launch of the new routes Dr Michael Murphy, President of UCC said: "UCC's new walking routes shall provide the opportunity for all of us to get active and stay fit. The launch today is also quite timely coinciding with National Work-Life Balance Day - an event organised by the Government and social partners to encourage new initiatives for staff."

Ms Anne Riordan, Irish Heart Foundation Cork Regional Manager attending the launch said "There is no downside to Slí 2. It's a simple, inexpensive and unobtrusive way of playing a part in promoting a healthier lifestyle. We've received an overwhelming response from all sectors to date and would be happy to team up with everybody in the workplace."

This event forms part of a week of activities for the Mind, Body, Soul Experience taking place in UCC from Monday 26 February to Friday 2 March 2007. Organised by UCC's HR Department, the programme aims to bring the three areas of healthy living (mind, body and soul) into balance.

The walking routes will be launched by Dr Michael Murphy, President of UCC at 1pm on Thursday, 1 March in The River Room, Glucksman Gallery, UCC. A charity lunch-time walking race around the routes in aid of the Marymount Hospice has been organised to coincide with the launch.

See http://www.ucc.ie/en/hr/HealthWelfare/MindBodySoul/Body/

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