Monday 29th October 2018 (2nd entry) - Izzwalkz update

Our 100th Walk

Thursday 25th November 2018

Posted 12:10pm

Our Izzwalkz initiative has had its ups and downs.

UPS
We completed our 100th walk last Thursday - picture above. What an achievement, from a concept and idea that Lazza had for many years. To know we have gone 100 consecutive Thursdays (despite storms, rain, biting cold, terrific sunshine) without a break is tremendous - and we continue to be the only weekly health walk in Islington available to anyone.
In four weeks we celebrate our second birthday.
We have a terrific group of regulars, and I believe the way we are welcoming to all is one of the reasons we have continued to exist and prosper.
We do try and include a small amount of exercise in the middle of the walk - not every week - and introduce different ways to do that if possible. For example, this year we have tried Yoga moves, Tai Chi, high intensity, stretches, balancing etc. It makes it fun.
We have also had an outing to the British Library this year, a tour of Clissold House, a Bingo session (last week in the house), so again trying to do something different. And of course we featured on the cover of the Islington Life July magazine (as well as a full page feature inside).

We have had contact from a reporter at the Hackney Gazette, and are just awaiting a day to sit down and have a chat with him in regards to HMHB, and the walk in particular. If we could find some sponsorship that would be amazing.
The Thursday walk is every week - meeting outside our partners, Highbury Grange Medical Centre, Highbury Grange, N5 at 11am.

DOWNS
We had hoped by now to have at least one or two more walks organised. However, a stumbling block is finance. We need volunteers, marketing, higher insurance, first aid, etc, and all that costs money. We had hoped the local Islington Council would be able to supply funds, and we had some terrific discussions around the subject, but like any council money is tight and not spare.  With that in mind, we are looking forward to meeting the reporter (detailed above) and get publicity for possible sponsorship.
We would like to get walks going in Highbury Fields, Whittington Park, Rosemary Gardens, Finsbury Park, Kings Cross, and Paradise Park - on top of our current one in Clissold Park. No London Borough has seven weekly health walks - it would be great to be  organising this.
Sadly, if money is not available soon the whole project will crumble - so fingers crossed.