It’s just one month until a group of 5 employees, including yours truly, from Paradigm Housing Group take on Vertical Rush in aid of Shelter. This is a slightly different challenge for me and a slight departure from my support of Make-A-Wish. That said, this was a challenge and a cause not to be missed.
What is Vertical Rush
1,000 runners will power up all 932 steps of Tower 42 to raise vital funds for some of the UK’s most vulnerable families.
Tower 42, originally known as the Natwest Tower, was the tallest building in the UK until 1990 and still ranks highly, being the third tallest in the City of London.
Now in its 10th year, Vertical Rush will see the runners tackle the climb in full spirit, either individually or in teams, hoping to climb the 42 flights of stairs in the fastest time possible. The pressure is on, with most scaling the impressive 600ft of ascent in an average time of 9 minutes 40 seconds.
Who are Shelter?
Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through our advice, support and legal services. Shelter campaign to make sure that, one day, no one will have to turn to them for help.
TeamParadigm aim to raise £800 for Shelter as part of the challenge. For every £1 raised 70p goes directly towards helping those struggling in bad housing and homelessness. You can donate here;
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/paradigmverticalrush
Being that we work in the housing sector, this felt like a great opportunity to shed some light the challenge some people are facing in this country right now. Every day 150 families in Britain become homeless – the money we raise can make a very real difference to those families.
Stair Climbing = Serious Benefits
Go to most workplaces and you’ll find some form of sign or campaign reminding you to ‘take the stairs’ and as such be healthy. Obviously climbing more than 900 steps is a shade more than you’d do in a normal day at home or in the office, but stair climbing is way to seriously boost your health and as such shouldn’t be underestimated as a form of workout.
Studies in to it have shown that;
- Climbing just eight flights of stairs a day lowers average early mortality risk by 33%,
- Seven minutes stair climbing a day can halve the risk of heart attack over 10 years
- Just two minutes extra stair climbing a day is enough to stop average middle age weight gain
Take it to the next level (pun intended) and climbing stairs is one of the best exercises when it comes to torching fat, strengthening the lower body, toning the butt, thighs, calves, losing inches from those love handles and belly and building great abs. Aside from the obvious muscular benefits, stair climbing is the immensely good for your lungs and cardiovascular system.
Guy Stapleford Ultra 