Corrie star Georgia says – I will if you will!

The Rock in Bury was buzzing on Saturday (18 January) when the ground-breaking ‘I Will if You Will’ movement hosted a unique event at St John’s Square. 

Presented by Michelle Livsey of Key 103 and taking in a whole host of goings-on – a sport and fitness fair, fun photo booth and pledge wall, fitness demonstrations by Streetshakers and Freak Dance and a giant exercise-powered light projection – the get-together was a huge hit with thousands of shoppers throughout the day.   

At 4pm Coronation Street star Georgia May Foote came along to hop inside the photo booth, have her photo taken and make a pledge on the pledge wall, as well as jump on board a spinning bike to power up the I Will if You Will light projection.

Also there to pledge her support and give exercise a go was Georgia Potter, Miss Junior Bury.

The Illuminos-designed light projection lit up the full frontage of the Debenhams store and portrayed through animation the journey that ladies might take to get moving and be more active.   

Throughout the day the ‘I Will if You Will’ team and a variety of sport and fitness providers were on hand, giving out advice and information about ‘I will if You Will’ activities and other opportunities to give exercise a try.

Nearly 2,000 goodie bags were handed out, 315 women and girls had their photo taken and made a pledge to be more active, and 200 women gave exercise a whirl by powering the light projection via a rowing machine, spinning bike or hand-powered bike

Councillor Jane Lewis, cabinet member for leisure, tourism and culture, said: “The ‘I Will if You Will’ get-together was really well received. With more than 35,000 visitors at The Rock on the day, we think we’ve taken a step in the right direction towards inspiring our women and girls to get moving, try something new and have a laugh while they do it.

“All the ladies who made a pledge on the day are in with a chance to win a six-month membership for two at the Village Spa and Leisure. This will be a great opportunity for the lucky winner and a friend to get the hang of being a bit more active. The winner will be notified later this week.”   

On the day of the event, Georgia May Foote pledged “To get a family member to exercise with her” and pledges made by other Bury ladies included: 

I Will:

·  start going to a dance class;

·  use the gym I pay for;

·  walk 30 minutes each day;

·  go to more classes, never miss one and eat healthier;

·  run a marathon;

·  start a daily exercise routine;

·  go swimming twice a week;

·  get out walking in the hills and mountains once a month; and

·  aim to do the 7 mins workout 3 times a week. 

Lots of help and advice for Bury ladies who want to get moving is available at http://www.iwillifyouwill.co.uk/ along with all the latest news, what’s going on near you and how you can get involved. 

I Will If You Will is a movement to get the women and girls of Bury moving. With National Lottery funding from Sport England and being launched by Bury Council, it’s about women getting together and trying something new, doing something for themselves for a change and having a laugh while they do it.

This £2.8 million behavioural change programme is rigorously testing what works in changing the sporting habits of women and girls. Best practice from Bury will be used to inform strategy to help increase the number of women participating in sport across the country. 

ENDS

Press release issued: 22 January 2014.

Picture attached: Ladies get exercising at the I Will If You Will Event.

Note to editors: More pictures are available – contact the press office.