In the summer of 2005 Heart of Mersey (HoM) launched a Healthy Stadia partnership with some of the region's leading sports clubs and venues.

Aintree Race Course, Everton Football Club, Halton Stadium (the home of Widnes Vikings Rugby League Football Club), Liverpool Football Club, St Helens Rugby League Football Club and Tranmere Rovers Football Club and have pledged to work towards providing healthier stadia for their communities.

The project, initially supported by sanofi aventis,  focuses on achievements in Food & Nutrition, Smoke Free and Physical Activity (including sustainable and green transport).

Each stadium has agreed to work on one of these areas with the support of Healthy Stadia Consultants and specialists from HoM. This project will also build long-term networks with NHS organisations and councils in the local areas.

Robin Ireland, HoM's Chief Executive, said the initiative represented a great opportunity for health professionals to forge links with stadia and work in partnership to improve the health of supporters, staff and the wider community. "Projects like this are key to the future of Greater Merseyside's health. This is a real opportunity for stadia to pass on their expertise to their local community."

The need for healthy stadia is clearly evident. Greater Merseyside has some alarming rates of obesity - a situation not helped by the limited choice and availability of healthy food at many sporting venues.

Healthy stadia partnerships are going from strength to strength.  Examples include:

The Saints' (St Helens RLFC) smoking cessation project has been smoothing the way for 2007 when the Knowsley Road ground goes smokefree.

Promotions through the healthy schools initiative has seen an increase
in fruit and water availability and uptake among primary schools. A forthcoming Healthy High School Competition will see students making strides to improve their schools.

Together with all the partners, the Saints' Fit for Life Academy for obese
youngsters has produced superb results, with several five to 10 year-olds
reducing weight and their families attending healthy food training and
cooking sessions to encourage a whole family approach to addressing
obesity. Now in its second year, 40 young people are taking exercise and have reduced their weight considerably.

A calorie map is being produced to encourage fans to park at set sites
away from the ground on match days and to walk to Saints. The map tells
them how many calories they will use up on the walk up and encourages them to
try a similar walk three times a week.

Healthy food options have been offered at match days and on 8th August, the
Saints' Open Day will be used by the partnership to promote a variety of health issues, from healthy eating to giving blood.

Across at Aintree, it's a similar healthy story.

In the run up to the 2006 Grand National, staff from Aintree Racecourse attached pedometers to their waists to discover how far they walk during the Race Festival. All staff were encouraged to focus on taking the recommended 10,000 steps a day.

As part of the HoM Healthy Stadia project, the pedometer challenge was supported by the Sport England Everyday Sport campaign, which encourages everyone to do 30 minutes' exercise a day.

Six members of staff took part for two weeks and walked an amazing 434.79 miles. Since the Grand National course is 4.5 miles, the six walked the equivalent of 96.62 Grand Nationals in a fortnight!

Charles Barnett, Managing Director of Aintree Racecourse, said: "The Healthy Stadia project has focused our attention on the health and well-being of our employees. By making simple changes to the staff restaurant and encouraging staff to walk - all year round - we can have a positive impact on their health."

Aintree Racecourse staff regularly walks around their workplace during lunch breaks and with the support of the HoM team are now looking at ways to continue to improve their health.

For more information about the Healthy Stadia Programme please contact: Robin Ireland, Chief Executive, Heart of Mersey, or email robin.Ireland@heartofmersey.org.uk