The Lord Mayor of Oxford, Councillor Mark Lygo, is launching an exciting campaign to encourage people in Oxford to get active and move more often throughout 2021.
The campaign will focus on sharing ideas and opportunities with people so everyone can move and be more active every day whether at home, accessing the many green spaces of Oxford and participating in other activities too. Everyone can get involved, whilst still adhering to safety measures during the coronavirus pandemic.
Helping the NHS and staying healthy
The Lord Mayor will emphasise how ‘moving more’ is key to helping our NHS through this pandemic and beyond by improving our overall health and will also help in relieving pressure on healthcare services too.
Physical activity helps lower blood pressure, improves heart and lung health, strengthens muscles and bones, improves balance, supports weight management, and increases flexibility and mobility.
It also boosts mental health by reducing stress and anxiety and improving sleep.
The campaign will highlight the wide range of parks and green spaces, sports and social clubs, and sports facilities that Oxford has to offer in supporting our health.
Local groups and clubs are set to ‘Challenge Mayor Mark’ to take part in their activities as part of the campaign this year, subject to the coronavirus restrictions.
Move With Mayor Mark on Social Media
The campaign will involve a series of videos of Mark Lygo undertaking a whole range of local activities whilst wearing the Lord Mayor’s Chain of Office. Examples of activities he will participate include:
- Walking in Cutteslowe Park, Port Meadow, Grandpont, Lye Valley, Rose Hill
- Running along the river and canal
- Playing table tennis at Manzil Way
- Volunteering at our local parks and outdoor spaces (depending on the coronavirus safety restrictions)
- Using the Fit Trails at Rose Hill, Cowley Marsh, Sunnymead, Barton, and Blackbird Leys
- Cycling
- Ice skating
- Dancing
- Fusion Gym sessions
- Online activities from the Activity Hub, including the NHS 10 minute workout.
The campaign will run throughout 2021, with regular updates given on the Lord Mayor’s Instagram and Lord Mayor's Twitter accounts. Videos of his activities will be uploaded once or twice per week on Oxford City Council’s Facebook and Twitter pages. Here, social media users will be able to see the Lord Mayor in action and share in the challenge to move more in everyday life by using the hashtag #MoveWithMayorMark.
I’m launching this positive campaign #MoveWithMayorMark as we kick-start a new year after the challenges we have all had to face in 2020. I have always enjoyed moving whether it’s walking, jogging, running, cycling or even swimming a few lengths in the local pool, because it helps my wellbeing at the same time as supporting the NHS.
We are fortunate in Oxford to have such a diverse range of parks, local activities and sporting facilities on our doorstep, so there really is no excuse in why we all can’t move more often. People can also get involved from the comfort of their own homes because I’ll be active online too. There really is something for everyone and this campaign will be a lot of fun. So I invite everyone in Oxford to join me in January 2021, join the campaign and #MoveWithMayorMark.
Councillor Mark Lygo, the Lord Mayor of Oxford
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