Derry City and Strabane District Council mayor Elisha McCallionl launches summer activity challenge

THE Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Elisha McCallion, is calling on local people to get active this summer by taking on her special Summer Activity Challenge.

Parents are being encouraged to join their children, and friends are being invited to team up in taking on a variety of activities over nine weeks, to be completed by August 31.

The challenge is geared towards getting more local people healthy and active and introducing them to the wide variety of sporting and leisure amenities in the Derry and Strabane areas.

All money raised will be going to a fantastic cause, the Mayor’s own chosen charity, the Alzheimer’s Society.

Launching the programme the Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Elisha McCallion, said that a number of prizes would also be up for grabs as an incentive to adopt a new healthier lifestyle over the summer.

“I am delighted to launch this new scheme as I’m extremely conscious of keeping my own family healthy, and I know sometimes it can be a challenge with all the demands of day to day life.

“This is the perfect way to spend time together enjoying new activities and setting achievable goals which will benefit the whole family, or why not team up with a few friends?

“We’re all aware of the positive impact of physical exercise on mental health and the money raised from membership will go towards my chosen charity the Alzheimer’s Society.

“I hope to see plenty of local people signing up for the challenge and reaping the benefits of a new healthier lifestyle.”

Any activity counts in the challenge as long as it gets people moving and gets their heart rate up, and participants will have free access once a week to any council leisure facility where they can try activities such as swimming, fitness classes, and even climbing. “

These activities are logged in a personal logbook and participants must try at least four different activities over the summer.

Those who successfully complete the challenge will be entered into a special draw for a year’s free membership at council leisure centres.

Twelve prizes are up for grabs across a range of age groups. The draw will be made on Sunday September 6 at Ebrington Square prior to the annual Alzheimer’s Memory Walk.

Anyone interested can register for the challenge at any council leisure centre, at the Derry or Strabane Council Offices, the Alley Arts Theatre, or the Guildhall.

Registration for the nine week programme costs £10 per adult and £5 per child. Registration will remain open until July 10^th.

For more information on the programme go to www.derrycityandstrabanedistrict.com/mayor