Friday, March 29, 2024

Join the fun for rural health

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One of the biggest health and well being initiatives rural New Zealand has ever seen will step up a gear this month with the inaugural Farmstrong Fit4Farming Cycle Tour and Farmstrong Challenge. Launched by farmers for farmers, the initiative encourages rural people to take notice of their health and well being and take action to improve it.
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Physical fitness has long been identified as a way to improve not only physical health but also mental well being.

With the vision to make NZ the fittest farming nation in the world, Farmstrong has issued the Farmstrong Challenge calling on all people in the rural community to collectively achieve four million kilometres of physical activity by July 2.

Learn more and sign up at www.farmstrong.co.nz/challenge/

To support the challenge, Farmstrong has teamed up with former farmer Ian Handcock to launch the first-ever Farmstrong Fit4Farming cycle tour.

A peloton of 20 men and women – each with strong connections to the rural sector – will set off on a 15-day, 1400km journey from Ngatea to Bluff, raising awareness on the importance of getting off the farm, exercising and connecting with others.

Handcock’s passion to help improve the physical well being of fellow farmers came from research he did through the Kellogg programme.

“That research was an eye-opener for me.

“I thought because we were out on the farm all day we were fit and tough but it’s not always the case.

“With the increase of onfarm machinery and other factors such as poor nutrition, we farmers are putting ourselves at risk of serious illnesses such as heart disease and as a nation we need to change.”

 

“I thought because we were out on the farm all day we were fit and tough but it’s not always the case.”

Ian Kirkpatrick

All Black

During the tour, the peloton would be hosting six Event Days – a chance for all farmers, growers, their families, their staff and anyone at all connected with rural NZ to get off the farm for the day, meet others and take part in a number of fun challenges such as a run or bike ride. Participation is free and each day ends with a barbecue.

Interest in the tour and the challenge was gaining momentum – so much so that former farmer and All Black captain Ian Kirkpatrick had signed up to cycle the first couple of legs – from Ngatea to Cambridge.

“I think it’s really important that farmers look at ways of being active other than the day-to-day duties of the job.

“Farming can help with strength but the aerobic fitness side of things is equally important.

“It’s no big deal actually, just be realistic, keep it simple and do something sustainable so that you will stick with it,” Kirkpatric said.

As an added incentive, six Giant Boulder trail bikes can be won during the Event Days. The bikes were bought through sponsorship from Farmstrongs’ key tour sponsors, who got right in behind the initiative because they valued the health and well being of rural NZ.

Farmers must register and take part during one of the event day activities to go in the draw.

All kilometres travelled during the tour and event days would go toward the collective goal of four million.

Register at farmstrong.co.nz/event-days/ to attend an Event Day near you. 

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