YMCA NORFOLK

YMCA Norfolk staff and young people have joined in a worldwide challenge to clock up 75,000 miles of exercise by walking around Norwich city centre.

The Norwich group came together on Saturday June 2 to take part in the YMCA World Challenge, which saw YMCAs in 119 countries across the globe team up to run, walk, jump, hop or even skip across 74,990 miles; the total distance between every YMCA in the world.

Eight YMCA Norfolk residents made their contribution by walking five miles around Norwich city centre, taking in various city-centre landmarks, from Norwich Cathedral to Chapelfield Gardens. After completing the walk, the young people were treated to a barbecue shared with a number of staff and residents before two young people topped up the total mileage by participating in a run which set out from the Norwich Central accommodation facility.

Resident Jasmine Mickleburgh said: “I found it really fun and found that I felt better in myself for taking part. It’s something I would love to do again”.

Catherine Watling, Performance and Participation Officer, one of the organisers of the Norwich event, said: “We’ve had a fantastic time and are thrilled that young people and staff took part in YMCA’s World Challenge. This has been a great opportunity for young people to come together and feel more empowered to achieve their goals. The event has been a reminder that we can achieve incredible things together.”

As a result of the enthusiasm with which the young people responded to the event, YMCA Norfolk is organising a programme of further health and wellbeing events, encouraging young people to be active and to reap the physical, and emotional benefits of exercise.

The World Challenge formed part of the programme of international celebrations marking 174 years since YMCA was founded by George Williams in 1844.

Pictured are the eight YMCA Norfolk residents who took part in the YMCA World Challenge by walking around Norwich.