A popular physical activity game already embraced by many areas across Scotland is heading for Cambuslang and Rutherglen.
Beat the Street is set to launch in the area from Wednesday, September 15 to October 27 and is free and open to anyone of any age and of any ability who wants to take part.
The game was designed by a doctor to get communities moving by helping people to make small changes, such as walking or cycling to school every day, to improve health and help embed physical activity into everyday life.
So far more than 1.4m people and 4000 schools have taken part in games across the UK and beyond, including one in the towns of Hamilton and Blantyre earlier this year, where more than 8400 local residents from the two towns walked, cycled and wheeled 133,999 miles during the six-week challenge.
Since it was created by GP Dr William Bird, the game has been played in more than 120 locations in the UK and beyond.
Children use a fob which will be provided by participating primary schools. Adults can pick up a free card from one of the distribution points listed on the Beat the Street website.
Players then find their nearest ‘Beat Box’ which will appear on lampposts around the towns.
There are 63 of these around the area and they have been adapted to make them more sensitive so that you don’t need to touch them – simply hover your card or fob over the Beat Box and it will beep and flash to record your points.
Your first visit to a Beat Box registers the journey; then walk, cycle or wheel to the next Beat Box within an hour to score 10 points.
There are prizes for the teams that walk, cycle and roll the furthest, plus Kilbryde Hospice could also stand to win up to £500 if players reach a weekly target that will be set each week throughout the game.
Leader of South Lanarkshire Council, Councillor John Ross, said: “We are delighted to again be bringing the game to two new communities in our council area.
“Having already seen first-hand the way it transforms whole communities, we’re delighted to launch the game across Cambuslang and Rutherglen and know that this is a great way of encouraging people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to get active together.”
More information will be available online and on social media at @BTSCamGlen.
