North-East Business

Parmo counter used to measure health

By Owen McAteer

9:33am Tuesday 7th September 2010

A DIGITAL firm has used the muchmaligned parmo as an integral part of a healthy living campaign.

DotUK has developed a website for the Stockton Big Challenge initiative, which runs until the end of this month.

The challenge, which is being run by charity Sustrans, with backing from the National Lottery, the NHS and Stockton Borough Council, aims to encourage people in the area to walk and cycle rather than taking the car.

And despite being deep fried, smothered in cheese and loaded with calories, the traditional Teesside parmo is being used as an integral part of the campaign, telling participants how many calories they have burned off during their journey.

A spokeswoman for dotUK, which is based in Yarm and employs 16 people, said: “Participants will be able to measure the healthiness of their journey against an unusual yardstick – the parmo.

“DotUK has created a parmo counter, which tells users how many of Teesside’s signature dish, if any, they have effectively burned off on their journey.

“A five-mile walk is worth about a sixth of a parmo, while a 135-mile cycle – the length of the Coast-to- Coast route from Whitehaven to Tynemouth – earns you just over one and a half.”

Andy Flisher, founder of dotUK, said: “The parmo counter is an excellent way to promote healthy living on Teesside and it was great to be part of the initiative.”

Paul Morrison, Stockton Active Travel co-ordinator, who is managing the challenge, said the project helped people to fit exercise into their daily lives, when they may not have time for other sporting activities.

He said: “It is all about trying to get people more active, including active travel.”

He added that having the right website to promote the initiative was really important.

The website contains information and tips to help people start travelling actively.

As part of the challenge, residents will also log their daily cycling or walking routes on the dotUKdeveloped website which will automatically enter them into regular prize draws.

Prizes include a weekend holiday for two and a spa treatment day.

Sustrans is a national charity which encourages people to choose healthier and more environmentally friendly forms of transport.

It works with families, communities, policy-makers and partner organisations.

More details of the challenge can be found at stocktonsbigchallenge.org.uk

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