October Round Up

Welcome to our October edition of Health & Hustle News! 

As the days grow shorter and temperatures drop in the UK, this is the perfect time to focus on our health, well-being, and staying motivated. Let’s keep that hustle strong and enjoy the season with a positive mindset!  Walking, running, gardening or any physical activity will help collect the mileage or kilometers towards the 1000mile challenge.  Team H8H2024 have returned from a running camp in Fuerteventura where we were running in temperatures of 30 degrees, followed with cool dips in the pool for water aerobics and other fun activities. 

The camp was such a success that next years camp has started taking bookings for October 2025.  To read the camp review and see the Video review click here. 

Coming back to the UK with the drop in temperature was a shock to the system but we had to get back to launching our next Couch to 5KM programme during the week and adding the programme to our Saturday Parkrun events.  The November and December events are taking shape with lots of opportunities to get more steps in towards the challenge, with the Twilight Severn Bridge event on 7 November where a few of us will be running the event at night time.  Parkruns are very popular with the group and the follow up for breakfast brings the group together as a community.  The new black challenge shirts have been launched with a change of design to offer performance shirts for all climates.  To help everyone through the change of season, here are a few steps and advice to consider to beat the winter blues:

🍂 Seasonal Wellness Tips

1. Immune Boost: Cold and flu season is here! Boost your immune system with vitamin C-rich foods (oranges, bell peppers, and kiwis) and consider a daily vitamin D supplement.
2. Stay Active: Cooler weather is great for outdoor walks, runs, or hikes. Regular exercise not only strengthens immunity but also lifts your mood!
3. Mental Health Check: Shorter days can sometimes affect our mood. Take advantage of natural sunlight and try relaxation practices, like mindfulness or journalism, to stay positive.

🚀 Hustle Tips for Productivity

1. Plan Your Day with Purpose: Start each day with three key goals, and tackle them first. This way, you’re making progress on what matters most.
2. Stay Organized: Use tools like planners or digital apps to stay on top of tasks. Organized work spaces contribute to organized minds!
3. Take Breaks: Remember, frequent breaks help you stay refreshed and focused. Aim for short breaks throughout the day to stay at your best.

🎃 October Challenge: Hydration Boost!

As temperatures drop, it’s easy to forget to stay hydrated. This month, let’s aim to drink more water daily. Consider adding a slice of lemon or cucumber to make it fun. Set a daily goal and keep each other accountable!

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Stay healthy, keep hustling, and let’s make October a month of progress and well-being.

September Round Up

September has been another busy month with the challenge, with good attendance at Parkrun in the UK.  With all parkruns we get together for breakfast and celebrate milestones.  This month we celebrated Jens Eberhardt, who completed 150 parkruns and presented him with his Robin Trust shirt.  To add a bit of fun to the challenge Merlin and Kevin have been racing against each other during September and so far Kevin has completed 160 miles so far this month with another week to go.   We were lucky to attend the new launch of ADIDAS training shoes hosted by Gloucester sports.  Running a 7.5KM route looking for treasure clues was a fun event and as usual everyone attending really got into the spirit of the event.  We were successful in winning a prize for our submitted photos that showed the character of our group.  Unfortunately some of us have been hit by a virus, which has slowed us down along with the sever weather we are experiencing.  With a week to go until we leave for run camp, we still have a couch graduation to finish and plan the launch of the next course starting in Mid October when we return from the Canaries.   

We continue to promote the Robins Trust 1000 Mile Challenge, which is an event aimed at promoting physical activity and raising funds to train home-based carers in South Africa. Participants are encouraged to walk, run, or cycle up to 1,000 miles over a year, with several distance options available. The funds raised support individuals like Siyamthanda Mfana, a young woman from Guguletu Township, who is training to become a professional nurse through Robin Trust’s programs.  

The challenge, which was launched in Aug 2024, highlights the dual benefits of improving participants' health while contributing to the community by funding the training of carers who provide essential healthcare services. Siyamthanda’s story of overcoming economic barriers to pursue her nursing career is central to the fundraising efforts this year.  People can join the challenge at any time by donating £15 and tracking their progress. Participants who complete their set goals will receive a medal and can also purchase a challenge shirt to commemorate their efforts​.

August 2024 Round Up

 

The Robin Trust 1000 Mile Challenge for 2024 has been a remarkable initiative focused on both promoting physical activity and supporting the training of home-based carers in South Africa. The challenge, which offers participants the option to walk, run, or cycle distances up to 1,000 miles over a year, has been instrumental in raising funds to sponsor individuals like Siyamthanda Mfana. Siyamthanda, a 19-year-old from Guguletu Township, is one of the beneficiaries who will receive training to become a professional nurse, thanks to the funds raised through the challenge.

This year’s effort is part of the broader mission of Robin Trust, a non-profit organization established in 1993 by Leslie McLeod-Downes. The trust provides essential healthcare services, including home-based care and sub-acute rehabilitation, while also operating a college that trains carers. The challenge not only encourages a healthier lifestyle among participants but also makes a tangible impact on the community by supporting individuals from economically deprived backgrounds to gain valuable skills and employment​.

For those interested in getting involved, whether by participating in the mileage challenge or by donating, the Robin Trust’s official website in South Africa, or through the Go Fund Me page to sign up in the UK.

Latest Activities

The August Robin Trust Challenge refers to activity, competition, or event related to the August Robin Trust, a foundation that typically focuses on charitable initiatives, community development in the Cape Town region.  If you're participating in or organising an activity for the August Robin Trust, it could involve various tasks such as: 

Community Engagement:

• Volunteering: Organising or participating in a community service event, like a cleanup drive, tree planting, or helping at a local shelter.
• Fundraising: Running a fundraiser to support a cause the trust is championing, like a charity run, bake sale, or auction.
• Workshops: Conducting educational workshops on topics such as environmental conservation, mental health, or skills training.

Awareness Campaigns:

• Social Media Challenges: Participating in or creating a social media campaign to raise awareness for a cause, such as posting daily tips on sustainable living or sharing personal stories related to the trust’s mission.
• Art and Essay Competitions: Organising or taking part in competitions that encourage people to express their ideas and experiences related to the trust’s focus areas.

Skill-Based Competitions:

• Hackathons or Innovation Challenges: If the trust is focused on technology or innovation, participants might engage in a hackathon or similar event to develop solutions for social issues.
• Creative Contests: Participating in or judging art, photography, or writing contests related to themes like social justice, community building, or environmental awareness.

Physical Challenges:

• Charity Walks/Runs: Organising or participating in a marathon, walkathon, or other physical activity to raise funds or awareness.
• Team Challenges: Competing in team-based activities that promote teamwork and physical fitness.

If you have specific details about the challenge or need help planning or executing an activity, feel free to share! or get in touch with Leslie and Kevin or catch us at a Saturday morning parkrun

Robin Trust Activity Challenge - Podcast - July 2024

Find out what has happened through July, as we get ready to launch the challenge in August.  Remember if you are a late starter it does not matter, you can join any time and start the year from where you sign up to join.  You can choose 100, 250, 500, 750 or 1,000 miles in a year.

How do I sign up in the UK? Click on this link to the go fund me page: Fundraiser by Leslie Macleod-Downes : Running to help Robin Trust carers (gofundme.com)

Donate £15 as part of your entry fee and e-mail (Click) Leslie on this address and you will be sent a tracker to capture your daily activity.

How do I capture my activity?  You can use a fitness wearable watch i.e. Garmin, Apple of Fitbit that will capture your distance, at the end of the day add this to your tracker.

What if I don't have or use a watch? You can download free apps to capture your steps on a phone.  Some apps available are: Pedometer - Run & Step, StepsApp Pedometer or Pedometer a - Step Counter etc.  These are available on the Apple store or Google stores.

Help us make a difference and sign up or sponsor this event and change a life for a great cause.  Thank you and see you at the finish line to present you with your medal and certificate. 

Making a Difference

As part of the challenge we wanted to make a difference and support a life changing opportunity.  We are pleased to announce we are sponsoring Siyamthanda Mfana, who will attend the training at the Robin Trust.   Siyamthanda is 19 Years Old and lives in a 1 room shack (Zinc House) at the back of the family home  in GULGULETHU TOWNSHIP with her mother Michelle and her sister who is 4 years old.  Her mother works as a cleaner at the Stay Easy Hotel at the Waterfront in Cape Town, where she earns 3,500 rand per month which is about £148.05p.  To complete the course she would have to find 11,820.33 rand which is £500.00p for the course fees.  Siyamthanda wrote a letter looking for sponsorship, which will be a big step towards achieving her long term ambition to qualify as a professional nurse, however the financial challenge stands in the way and that is why we are raising funds to make dreams come true and see her next graduate with other home based carers, which will be a step towards moving out of poverty and giving back to her community.

Help us to raise funds by either joining the challenge or leaving a small donation by clicking here!

How Do I Join The Challenge?

How are we going to make a difference?  We are promoting a challenge where you can walk, run or jog to collate your distance and enter your achievement in your own personal data capture sheet.

How much will it cost to enter?  We are charging £15 to enter by donating to our go fund page to sign up here

How does this work?  Once you have signed up, mail your details to this email address who will send you your data capture sheet.  Once you receive the sheet you can either print or use it on a computer to enter your daily activity.  Select either 100, 250. 500, 750 or 1000miles to set your personal challenge distance, and you can start the challenge whenever you want and add your distance in KM starting at week1.  For anyone attempting 1000miles we advise you to try and complete  the challenge in a year.  When you Finish your challenge, send your sheet in and you will receive a medal for completing the challenge.  You can also purchase a challenge shirt for £18, which can be ordered from Gloucester Sports.  If you don’t want to do the challenge you can donate to the go fund page, or if you want to raise additional funds you can do this by asking friends, family and colleagues to sponsor you.

With your help and support, we can achieve our goal and make difference.  You can also benefit from taking on the challenge with your own health and wellbeing.  Either take on the challenge, share with someone who needs a challenge or wants to get active.