More than 130 members of staff from Park Medical and Overdale surgeries are taking part. They include those who helped prepare Derby Arena ahead of their mass Covid vaccination programme.
Staff are walking, jogging and cycling a total of 8,187 miles. It's the equivalent distance between Derby and Tokyo, where the postponed Olympic Games is set to take place.
Staff have been split into teams and recording their progress via fitness app Strava. They are hoping to raise at least £3,000 for us during the challenge.
A charity which is close to the hearts of everyone
Heather Simpson, from Park Medical Practice, said: “The past 12 months have been a very challenging time for the practice and its staff. Since the start of the pandemic, we have been working hard to run the GP surgery, helping to set up and run the ‘red hub’ for Covid patients and set up the vaccination centre at Derby Arena.Treetops has always been a charity which is close to the hearts of everyone at Park Medical and Overdale practices. Our patients benefit greatly from the services provided by the hospice and some members of our patient participation group volunteer there. We have entered a team into the Starlight Strut every year, too.
A chance to have fun whilst also improving wellbeing
"This challenge gives our staff a non-Covid focus. It is a chance to have fun whilst also improving both physical and mental wellbeing. Sometimes it gets forgotten that we are also facing the same personal challenges as others during the pandemic, as well as trying to do the right thing.
“We hope our patients will all be proud of how their practices are getting involved with the challenge and continue to support us.”