Walk For Wellbeing at St Mary-at-the-Quay, Ipswich

24 May 2012

Historic Ipswich Church, St Mary-at-the-Quay, is taking its first steps towards a new future with the launch of a Walking Challenge to raise funds to transform the 14th century building into a community Wellbeing Heritage Centre. The Churches Conservation Trust are collaborating with Suffolk Mind on the project. The people of Ipswich are being called to walk their way towards fitness, raising sponsorship by taking 10 000 steps a day every day for the next month.

The month-long Walking Challenge, which starts today, will culminate in early July with a treasure hunt for children and spectacular fire-walk taking place near the church at Ipswich Quay.

It is just part of a two-month long community fundraising drive for St Mary at Quay which aims to raise £30,000 towards the target sum of £142,000 required to take the £4.7 million project forward. During this time the currently empty church will be transformed into a buzzing hive of activity with family fun days, exhibitions and other community events.

By starting off fundraising efforts with The Walking Challenge, both charities hope to show how the Heritage Wellness Centre will combine local history with activities which emphasise mental and physical wellbeing while encouraging greater community participation.

Suffolk Mind’s business development director, Sue Gray, explained: “Our mental and physical health are closely linked. Taking gentle exercise and setting yourself realistic goals - like taking the recommended 10,000 steps a day - are simple actions we can all take that will help us feel better about ourselves and more connected to the people around us. We hope as many people as possible will be able to get involved and help us achieve the goal of bringing this unique resource to Ipswich.”

All participants signing up for the Walking Challenge by emailing [email protected] or calling 020 7213 0423 to register will receive a free pedometer to help them count their daily steps, along with advice and tips on getting started.

Find out more about the new wellbeing centre

Find out more about St Mary at the Quay

Find out more about Suffolk Mind