Cycling challenge makes for a smoothie ride

Employees at Grundon Waste Management found the recipe for smoothie success as they marked Health and Wellbeing Week 2016 with a cycling challenge.

Staff took it in turns to compete on two static bikes – complete with food blenders attached – to see how far they could ride in 45 seconds. The faster they rode, the smoother the smoothie, with Chris Newell winning by pedalling for 0.74 of a mile and afterwards enjoying a glass of mango, pineapple & kiwi.

The challenge, which also coincided with the Oxfordshire company’s own Grundon Safety Week, was just one of a series of events held at its offices, depots and quarries across the Thames Valley.

Toni Robinson, compliance manager, said: “The theme of our Safety Week was “Sit less, move more” and, as it coincided with Health and Wellbeing Week, we decided to give everyone the challenge of becoming more active.

“We held various fun activities to encourage employees to take time to think about exercise, diet and general wellbeing. It was very well supported and great to see everyone entering into the spirit of the week, while also taking on board the more serious messages about health and safety.”

Events included a pedometer challenge, where teams from all the different locations competed against each other to see who walked the most steps in a day; quizzes and healthy lunches; walking and Wii-Fit activities; and advice on manual handling in the workplace.

In addition, a team from Oxford Food Bank – which Grundon supports on an ongoing basis by donating money from its specialist food waste collection service – came in to talk to staff about the charity’s work and signed up more than a dozen volunteers to join them over the next six months.

Grundon Safety Week also came just a few days ahead of European Safety Week, which takes place from October 24.

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