Fostering a community of giving through the Healthy Weigh Challenge

The World Health Organisation makes it clear: “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”.

With April marking Health Awareness Month, we at PPS joined the observance by announcing the third instalment of the Healthy Weigh Challenge (HWC). HWC was launched in 2021 to promote health and wellness among our members and staff by focusing on movement, nutrition and self-care with the help of experts.

The eight-week challenge is directed through the three pillars, which are:

Movement – Whether taking a brisk walk or pushing for a personal best running time, Steven Murray from Health Architects SA will guide participants on tracking steps and all movement with personalised exercise programmes.

Nutrition – Carly Seager, a registered dietitian from InteliHEALTH will share customisable nutritional programmes with participants.

Self-care – In partnership with Sensory Intelligence, Annemarie du Toit will guide participants on how to have fun and balance work and life successfully.

We know that a lifestyle change is not always easy, so this year, we have introduced key elements to support you through this journey, an idea sparked by great feedback from participants over the last two years. PPS will allow members to invite accountability partners of their choice to participate in the fun eight-week interactive programme. They will have access to fitness activities and interventions to help improve their overall health. The accountability partner could be a spouse, life partner, family member, neighbour or friend.

Still, in the spirit of well-being, we know that taking steps to do good also has health benefits. The challenge has a dual positive impact where HWC members take charge of their well-being and an opportunity to pay it forward by donating towards the PPS Foundation coincidently. The HWC challenge starts in the same month as Global Pay It Forward Day celebrated on 28 April. This day is a worldwide celebration of kindness that takes place every year. It is not associated with any organisation or foundation. The event took inspiration from a 1997 book by Hyde and Blake Beattie, Pay It Forward Day. It started in Australia and has spread to more than 85 countries. It only lasts 24 hours but inspires communities to promote acts of kindness throughout the year.

Though ideally, these are things that we think of more often than just one day a year, having this official day in April coincide with the start of the HWC challenge made it simpler to raise awareness about why it is so important for people to work together to sustain a community of giving. We hope that while we are committed to improving our health and wellness, the aspects of giving and acts of kindness for the right reason have a dramatic impact too.

The Professional Provident Society Foundation is a registered Public Benefit Organisation. Registration No. IT 873/2016(G)