The Phelan US Centre is excited to announce a virtual challenge to walk around the entire United States, with a prize of £150 on offer for the participant who records the most steps before 1 May 2025. A further prize of £150 will also be awarded to a randomly selected participant in the competition.
We are challenging you to join us on the walk, and to get outside and learn more about the United States by recording your daily steps on a special group on the World Walking app. As you record your steps on the app, you will receive information about some of the US’ most iconic landmarks as we walk virtually around the country. We also encourage you to take and share photos of your walks, capturing moments of personal achievement and community spirit!
We’ve set an ambitious goal – to collectively record over 21.5 million virtual steps across 21 US states by 1 May 2025. This is the equivalent of walking the length of the entire UK nine times!
We know that it’s ambitious – but with your help, we can get there!
How do I register?
Please register here by filling in the form.
After your registration, you will received invitation email from World Walking app within 1-2 working days. To take part in the walking challenge, please follow the instructions here.
Walking has proven benefits for the environment, encouraging greater appreciation and respect for the natural world and reducing dependence on more carbon intensive methods of transportation. Spending time outdoors also has clear mental and physical health benefits.
Participants will also have the chance to win one of two £150 prizes! One prize will be given to the participant who records the most steps during the duration of the initiative. The other will be given to a randomly chosen participant who has done at least 20,000 steps every week – after all, it’s not just about who does the most steps!
The Phelan US Centre is also holding an in-person guided walk on Thursday 3 April, bringing members of the LSE community together to explore historically and culturally significant US-related sites that are right on the doorstep of the LSE campus. This lunchtime walk will take about an hour.
To sign up for the walk, please click here.
The initiative is free and open to all. However, only current LSE students and staff will be eligible for the two prizes of £150.
To be eligible for the top steps prize, you must record a minimum of 600,000 steps before the 1 May. To be entered into the random ballot, you must record a minimum of 20,000 steps per week.
The Phelan US Centre reserves the right to verify your step count. We encourage you to download a step-tracking app/device to keep an accurate record.
Photo by Kitera Dent on Unsplash