Steps to Health Challenge

Steps to Health Challenge 2025

Challenge Dates: 12 May to 15 June 2025

Registration open 7 April 2025

What is Steps to Health

Steps to health is a five week walking challenge that supports staff in the HSE and other health care organisations to get more active and to increase their physical activity levels. The aim is to get you walking and counting your steps daily and connecting with your work colleagues in a fun way whilst improving your health and wellbeing. Our new Every Move Counts National Physical Activity Guidelines have shown us that we need to move more everyday and adults need to get at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate activity per week for health benefits.

This year steps is being run locally in your region so any issues contact your regional coordinator.

HSE Dublin and Northeast

Dublin North City & West/Dublin North County:hwb.dncc@hse.ie
Louth/Meath:HPCourse.NE@hse.ie
Cavan/Monaghan:Jennifer.Treanor@hse.ie

HSE Dublin and Midlands

Dublin/Kildare/West Wicklow:Daniel.russell@hse.ie
Laois/Offaly/Longford/Westmeath:healthpromotion.midlands@hse.ie

HSE Dublin and South East

Carlow/KilkennyWexford/Waterford/South Tipp:Ann.Bray@hse.ie
Dublin South/Wicklow: Mateusz.Naumczyk@hse.ie

HSE Southwest

Cork/Kerry: Mary.Cleary8@hse.ie

HSE West and Northwest

Galway/Mayo/Roscommon: Sean.Conneely2@hse.ie
Donegal/Sligo/Leitrim: Esther.Mooney@hse.ie

HSE Midwest

North Tipperary/Clare: Maeve.ryan@hse.ie
Limerick: Sinead.Kileen@hse.ie

How does Steps work?

Download a poster to advertise the challenge
Set up a team of 2-10 people
Nominate a coordinator who will look after your team
Register your team here in the region you are based in
Download participant and coordinator guides here
Get active daily by stepping or moving with your teammates. Every Move Counts!
Record your daily steps using phones or personal devices.
Record your teams total weekly steps for the 5 weeks
Keep an eye out for local competitions in your region.
Keep active and walking after the challenge!

Most of us walk between 3,000 to 5,000 steps a day. We challenge you to make up the extra steps so that you reach the goal of 10,000 steps a day. If you already walk 10,000 try and get as many steps as possible in during your day

It might take longer for those who are inactive at present. You can break up the steps into ten minute walks at a time and still get the health benefits.

Our new Every Move Counts National Physical Activity Guidelines have shown us that we need to move more everyday and adults need to get at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate activity per week for health benefits.

Sitting at your desk or anywhere all day is known to increase our risk of ill health – so remember to take breaks every hour and to try and get a walk or stretch in at lunchtime. Every Move Counts so try and limit your sedentary time and replace it with any type of activity. Any is better than none.

Find out more about being active for your health

Steps to Health for Wheelchair Users

It is possible to take part as a wheelchair user. While the HSE Steps challenge is obviously based on logging steps there are several ways in which wheelchair users' activity can be recorded as steps. Activity trackers such as FitBit and Apple Watches and personal devices can convert movement to steps.

Other Methods to Convert to Steps:

Track the distance wheeled

An odometer, which can be purchased from a cycle or sports equipment store can be attached to the wheelchair and will monitor the distance covered each day. The distance can then be converted to steps by using the following equation: 1km = 1250 steps.

Minutes of moderate/vigorous activity for any exercise

10 minutes of moderate intensity activity = 1,000 steps
10 minutes of high intensity activity = 2,000 steps”

Find out more about being active for your health and wellbeing

Walking Routes

There are over 250 Slí na Sláinte walking routes around the country, all waymarked and great for getting out for a sociable walk and talk with family and friends. For more information visit Irish Heart Foundation – Slí na Sláinte Routes.

Getirelandactive.ie

Get Ireland Active can help you to find where to move more and be active in your community and help you on your physical activity journey. Our communities are full of opportunities to be more active and to find what suits you best. All in one place you can explore countless trails, walks, clubs, facilities and public places across the country to be active.

Steps to Health Challenge