General News
27 September, 2023
12 million steps taken
THE team at Cooinda have tallied more than 12 million steps throughout September to help raise funds for those living with Cerebral Palsy.
THE team at Cooinda have tallied more than 12 million steps throughout September to help raise funds for those living with Cerebral Palsy.
The funds are being raised through STEPtember, a virtual health and wellness fundraising challenge which encourages Australians to walk, run, ride, wheel or spin their way to 10,000 steps per day through September.
Cooinda human resources officer Caroline Smith said staff had decided to register as an organisation to promote healthy workplace habits while rallying behind a worthy cause.
“It was an initiative of the staff wellbeing committee, which is being driven by our staff to support people with Cerebral Palsy and also to increase our physical fitness and to promote a sense of community within Cooinda,” he said.
“We encouraged our staff to join a team and some of the rivalries have been really good.
“Each person has an app which records their steps.
“It’s created a sense of achievement and fun while trying to outdo each other with how many steps we can do.
“It’s been really good for our staff culture and our mental wellbeing.”
Ms Smith said 43 staff had registered among 11 teams, all of which took the expression ‘one step at a time’ and ran with it.
“We have raised over $2000,” she said.
“We set a goal of $1000 so to reach more than double that is amazing.
“Our top stepper has done 817,000 steps for the month.
“We’ve heard stories about people now walking to work, or walking groups forming during lunch breaks, and we even had one guy walk up and down the passageway in his house to get his steps up on a rainy day.”
Cooinda has also donated $550 towards the fundraiser total in celebration of the dedication staff members had shown.
“Cooinda encouraged each team to raise a minimum of $50 between the team and they’ve done such a great job, so Cooinda has matched that $50 for each team,” Ms Smith said.
“Supporting those who live with a disability is something we’re all very passionate about, and it’s been great for the staff.”
Cerebral Palsy is among the most common motor condition disabilities in Australia, with one in 700 children diagnosed with the condition according to Cerebral Palsy Australia.
The condition, is caused by development of the brain or damage to the brain which affects a person’s ability to control their muscles.
If you would like to support the team’s fundraising efforts visit www.steptember.org.au/fundraisers/cooinda.