Over 3,000 people flocked to 90 parks across the UK on Saturday 30 May for National Outdoor Fitness Day, an initiative developed to help raise awareness of the benefits associated with exercising outdoors.
At the forefront of the initiative was British Military Fitness (BMF), which offered free military sessions for everyone in parks across the UK. Sessions titled ‘The Biggest Ever BMF Sessions’ took place in Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Edinburgh, Brighton and London and encouraged people of all ages to enjoy physical activity in the fresh air, while raising pivotal funds for the Royal British Legion.
BMF cited recent studies that exercising outside helps to improve energy levels and decrease stress to a greater extent than a workout indoors, and findings also suggested that training in the open air could burn up to 30% more calories than doing the workout indoors.
Harry Sowerby, founder and managing director of British Military Fitness, commented, “The second National Outdoor Fitness Day has been a huge success, with so many people across the country coming down to our free sessions and getting outdoors and having fun. I’d like to thank everyone who got involved this year and hope that it has helped even more people to discover the benefits of outdoor exercise.”
Louise Ajdukiewicz, head of corporate partnerships at the Royal British Legion, said, “We were delighted to work with British Military Fitness again this year across the UK to celebrate National Outdoor Fitness Day. British Military Fitness classes are a great way to keep fit, have fun and support the Legion’s vital work.”
The money raised from the National Outdoor Fitness Day will help to provide practical help, advice and support to the whole of the Armed Forces community, whether it’s helping veterans to remain independent in their homes, supporting bereaved families, ensuring people have access to the benefits they deserve or offering employment advice.
For more information about British Military Fitness and National Outdoor Fitness Day, visit britishmilitaryfitness.com
