Over 50 FedEx employees have collectively completed 987 miles this week in a get active challenge to raise awareness for the benefits of exercise on mental health.

Launched on Mental Health Awareness Week, the challenge was organised by employees at the Atherstone depot and open to all FedEx employees and their communities.

In line with this year's theme for the week – nature – employees were encouraged to spend time outdoors in the evening and for meetings - logging their activities by scanning a QR code.

The 53 participants were encouraged to track any form of activity, from walking to running, wheelchair activity, cycling and swimming, with an aim to collectively 'be active' for a total of 283 miles.

The target distance is the equivalent of a car ride between Windermere and Winchester – a nod to the name of the organisers of the challenge, FedEx's Women's Inclusive Network (or WiN!).

During the pandemic, logistics providers and FedEx employees have worked tirelessly to keep our economy, communities, and SMEs trading, while also delivering personal protective equipment and medical supplies.

Sarah Mercer, Continuous Improvement Lead at FedEx Express said: "This year has been incredibly challenging for our employees, who have played an integral role in keeping the economy moving.

"The idea of a movement and activity challenge came as many of us spend most of our days on the road or sitting at our desks, so we wanted to create a collective moment for our employees to get outdoors and exercise.

"During Mental Health Awareness Week, we also wanted to demonstrate the positive impact that an active lifestyle has on mental wellbeing."