NFU adviser walks one million steps in aid of farming charities

Rachael Gillbanks with her dog Molly are walking one million steps in aid of two farming charities (Photo: RABI)

A National Farmers' Union adviser will take the final steps of her one million walk today in aid for two farming charities.

A desire to break the habit of sitting down inspired NFU communications adviser Rachael Gillbanks to take a few steps for charity – one million steps to be exact.

She hopes that local farmers will join her for her final mile at Hadrian’s Wall on Monday (December 18).

Rachael is doing the walk in aid of two farming charities - the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) and the Farming Community Network (FCN).

She said: “Although I walk miles at the weekend with Molly, my dog, I spend much of my working week at my desk and it can be hard to get in much exercise. I joined the City Moves walking challenge initially to try and break the habit of sitting down too much.”

Rachael devised a plan to walk for 40 minutes three times a day plus six hours at the weekend.

“After week one I’d done more than 100,000 steps,” Rachael added. “Then the farmer over the road, who’d seen me going out with my torch into the pitch blackness, challenged me to turn my efforts to better use! Considering his challenge on my walk, I thought ‘what if I could walk a million steps before Christmas?’”

Through her work with the NFU, she knew of charities RABI and FCN and decided she’d raise funds to support people in the farming industry. She said: “I would love to think my efforts could help and make a small difference.”

She hopes that local farmers will join her for her final mile at Hadrian’s Wall today.

To make a donation in support of Rachael’s challenge, visit www.justgiving.com/teams/AMillionStepstoChristmas