Ten Miles and Ten Years – It’s All About Life Expectancy

Leeds charity Zest is hoping to raise awareness of the TEN years difference in life expectancy, depending on which areas babies are born in Leeds.  To emphasise the ten years, Zest staff will walk ten miles from Harewood to Holbeck – and they’re hoping as many people as possible with tag along, even if they can just walk a mile.

It’s all part of Zest’s first FUNdraising Week, and Dom Charkin, Operations Manager, explained Our vision is that Leeds is a city where everyone has the same opportunity.  Unfortunately, gross inequality still exists in the City. All our work has a focus on improving life chances for people living in the poorest parts of the City. This walk aims to raise awareness of the issue on our doorstep and to challenge people into doing something about it.”

It is estimated that over 160,000 people in a growing city like Leeds experience deprivation, and some live in areas ranked amongst the 10% most deprived nationally.   The impact on health is well documented.

One of the Zest trustees, Michelle Regan, said ‘The walk will start at Harewood on the 17th July and will finish at Leeds City Station – the route we have chosen is about ten miles; that’s one mile to represent each year of life lost for those born into the poorest parts of the City today. We are challenging people from the City to join us so that we can really push reducing inequality up the agenda in the City.’

 If you are interested in joining the walk please contact Dom Charkin on 0113 240 6677 or [email protected] or follow on the day using the #10inTen

 

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