PRESS RELEASE – England legend Katy Daley-Mclean completes Million Step Challenge for Team Evie
PRESS RELEASE – England legend Katy Daley-Mclean completes Million Step Challenge for Team Evie
Katy Daley-Mclean, Team GB Olympian and captain of the England team that won the Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2014, took on the challenge for the charity Team Evie, for which she is a patron.
“It was a really good way of being able to raise some money and awareness of Team Evie especially during the current climate.” Katy, who has over 100 caps for England and has scored over 500 points in her career, said.
The challenge, which the charity run with award winning start-up company ‘One Million Steps’, is to walk 10,000 steps every day for 100 days – totalling 1,000,000 steps in total, equivalent to 500 miles!
“The challenge has been amazing for us. As a charity we have faced months without being able to organise and run our usual events and fundraisers – this challenge was something people could do even throughout lockdown as they take part on their own, or with those in their household. It has been brilliant to have our patron Katy take on the challenge to help us raise funds but also awareness of our charity and what we do – hopefully she can help inspire many more to get involved and take part in the challenge” said Greg Johnston, Team Evie CEO.
Participants get sponsored for the event to raise money for charity, but the challenge is also designed to help people make a positive difference in their lives, as walking every day promotes wellbeing and benefits both good physical and mental health.
“I really enjoyed the challenge and became quite addicted to checking my steps. I’m already an active, but it made me go out on days that I really didn’t want too. It really made me aware of how inactive you can be on some days and this in turn motivated me to get out and walk. I also enjoy walking a lot more than I did at the beginning!” Katy, nominee for World Player of the Year 2019, said.
Katy completed the million steps in 80 days, nearly 3 weeks ahead of schedule, and said that she really enjoyed it.
“I think it’s a great way to stay active, move at your own pace while raising money for charity. For me it gave me a much greater awareness of my day to day level of activity.” Katy said.
The Million Steps Challenge for Team Evie has been held twice now, and some of the feedback from those who have taken part has been incredible. Some participants have said how taking part has changed their life, with the knock-on effects of walking each day taking them by surprise – improved diet, better sleep, becoming fitter, losing weight and many other positives.
“The Million Step challenge was just what I needed to push me back to fitness after an operation yet also give me an opportunity to repay the kindness and support Team Evie showed my daughter and her partner after their son was born. Being part of a group made the challenge better for me as I can’t help being competitive, but I know that’s not for everyone! It did keep me going though on days that I didn’t feel like walking. I got fitter, walking improves your well-being and you get to raise money for a great charity too! It’s a win-win” said Liz Condron, participant in the January challenge.
The challenge is taking place again starting on the 1st October, this time as a 90-day challenge, and Team Evie are looking for people to take part. For more information on the challenge and how to sign up click here
“We would love to have a huge team of people taking on the challenge. This year has been, and continues to be, incredibly difficult for us financially. To be able to run a challenge like this has been a Godsend, but in order for it to help us make an impact we need as many people as possible to sign up and get involved.” Said Greg Johnston.
Team Evie is a charity based in Cumbria that helps sick children and their families. Set up in memory of their daughter Evie, the charity was created by Greg and Jill Johnston, with the aim of helping children and families like them and Evie. The charity has grown so much since being created in 2015, thanks to the generosity of our wonderful supporters, and now support 20 medical teams and hospitals across our region.
Katy Daley Mclean, who trained to be a teacher along with Evie’s dad Greg, joined the charity as a patron in 2018.
“I think that the work they do to support families at a time they are at their most vulnerable is extremely important. If I can help in any small way, it’s a great thing to be able to do.” Katy said.
