Harrow Striders

17/09/2026

A proud evening for WALX with Harrow Striders 💜

Sue was recognised as a Lifetime Achievement finalist at the 2026 Harrow’s Heroes Awards, celebrating people who make a difference across our local community.

Frankie and Vinura were there to represent Sue on the night, and it was fantastic to hear WALX with Harrow Striders recognised during the ceremony too.

A lovely moment for Sue, and a reflection of the time and commitment she has given to getting people across Harrow walking, moving and enjoying being active together.

Thank you to Harrow Council for celebrating the people making a difference in our borough, and to WALX for being part of the journey. 👏

17/09/2026

Sue has been shortlisted for a Harrow’s Heroes Lifetime Achievement Award! 👏

Before Harrow Striders, Sue spent almost 40 years working in secondary education, including 20 years supporting young people with social, emotional and mental health difficulties as a qualified counsellor and coach.

After discovering Nordic walking, Sue trained as an instructor in 2017 and turned that passion into something she could share with the Harrow community. Since then, she has helped countless people get outdoors, become more active, build confidence and make new connections.

That dedication has now been recognised by Harrow Council, with Sue named as a finalist for the Lifetime Achievement Award 2026.

We see what Sue puts into Harrow Striders week after week, so seeing her recognised in this way is a pretty special moment. 🥳

A huge congratulations to Sue and all of this year’s Harrow’s Heroes finalists!

https://www.harrow.gov.uk/council/harrows-heroes

Harrow’s Heroes celebrates local people and teams. Their hard work and dedication make our borough a special place to live and work.

15/09/2026

There’s much more to staying active than the number on the scales.

New research shared by WellNation has looked at GLP-1 weight management medicines alongside regular, structured exercise – and it highlights just how important movement can be during weight loss.

Regular exercise can help preserve muscle, maintain strength, mobility and bone health, and support longer-term weight management. All things that can help us keep doing the activities we enjoy as we get older.

And if you’ve been hearing more about GLP-1 medicines and wondering what they actually mean, there’s a timely conversation happening today.

Dr Mathi Woodhouse, GP and Diabetes Lead, is joining Friends of Know Diabetes’ Homeshow to explain how these medicines fit into diabetes and weight management, who may benefit and why medication is only one part of the bigger picture.

Homeshow is live on the 18 September at 1pm. Follow Friends of Know Diabetes North West London for details on how to watch!

Combining regular exercise with GLP-1 therapy is estimated to generate, in the UK, around £2.7bn in economic and societal value over 10 years (Image: pexels.com) Pairing GLP-1 therapy with regular, structured exercise improves long-term health outcomes, reduces downstream costs and generates positi...

14/09/2026

The stepping stones became one of everyone's favourite moments on our latest walk. 🪨

There was just enough wobble to make us concentrate, plenty of laughter and, thanks to our walking poles, nobody ended up in the water!

Walking isn't about competing with anyone else. 🌿

It's about gradually building confidence in what your body can do, enjoying the challenge and celebrating the little victories along the way.

Sometimes the smallest moments become the biggest memories.

10/09/2026

And the views were definitely worth the climb! 🌤️

After leaving Chesham, Sue and the group crossed the River Chess on the stepping stones before heading uphill for a panorama across the Chess Valley - complete with sheep in the fields!

By halfway, they’d reached the pretty village of Latimer, where the cottages provided the backdrop for a picnic stop before carrying on.

Stepping stones, valley views, villages and plenty of countryside. A Wednesday well spent with the group.

Here’s a little more from the route...

10/09/2026

Women often have less time to look after their own health once they become parents.

Researchers found that only 16% of mothers with young children take regular exercise, compared with 30% of women without children.

It's a reminder that becoming active isn't always about motivation. Sometimes it's simply about finding an activity that fits into everyday life and a group where you feel comfortable.

That's one of the reasons we love walking.

You don't need expensive equipment, previous experience or a certain level of fitness to get started. Whether it's a gentle social walk or something more challenging with poles, walking can improve cardiovascular health, build confidence, reduce stress and help create lasting friendships.

Every week, we meet people who tell us they've spent years putting everyone else first. Taking that first walk is often the beginning of putting themselves back on the list.

If you've been thinking about becoming more active, we'd love to welcome you along to one of our walks.

Have you found it difficult to make time for your own health?

Parenthood is associated with changes in women’s health that are not seen in men, including reduced exercise and differences in wellbeing, new research has revealed. Men’s health indicators varied only slightly depending on whether they were fathers, while the number and age of children were lin...

10/09/2026

Where will a Walkabout Wednesdays take us next? 🌿

This month, Sue and the group headed to Chesham for the Chess Valley Walk, starting at the River Chess and following the route through some beautiful countryside along the way.

Our Walkabout Wednesdays are a chance to go a little further and explore somewhere different. These are longer, more adventurous walks that take us beyond our usual Harrow routes and into neighbouring boroughs, valleys and countryside.

Here’s a little glimpse from the River Chess.

09/09/2026

A walk doesn't have to be long to count. 🚶‍♀️

Even finding 10 minutes to get outside and walk can be a simple way to add more movement to your day.

That's why we're supporting This Girl Can and the message behind Move for Ten - making getting active feel more achievable and showing that every bit of movement counts.

It could be a walk around the block, through your local park or part of the journey to the shops. Start with 10 minutes and see where your feet take you. 💜

09/09/2026

Ever wondered what Canons Park looked like when it was part of a huge 500 acre estate?

On Sunday 20 September, Friends of Canons Park are turning back the clock with free walking tours exploring the park’s fascinating 18th century history. 👣

You’ll discover the story of the first Duke of Chandos, who developed the Canons Estate, and learn about the grand mansion and some of the treasures it once contained.

The tours are part of the Open House Festival, organised by Open City, and there’s plenty more to explore while you’re there.

Visit the historic Canons Mansion, now North London Collegiate School, take the rare opportunity to walk around the Seven Acre Lake, which only opens for tours once a year, or step inside St Lawrence Church to see its remarkable interiors and the Duke of Chandos’ mausoleum.

If you regularly walk through Canons Park, this is a chance to discover just how much history has been under your feet all along. And with the tours suitable for ages 9 to 99, you can bring the family along too!

📅 Sunday 20 September
⏰ Tours every hour from 10am to 4pm
📍 Meet opposite Liam’s in the Park at the Good Friends Café
🎟️ Free with no booking required
🚶 Around 50 to 55 minutes

Find out more at canonsparkfriends.org

08/09/2026

Walking is always better with good company. 💜

One of the nicest parts of our Harrow Striders walks is the social side - catching up as we walk, meeting new people and, sometimes, sitting down together afterwards for lunch or a cuppa!

A lovely way to spend a summer day. ☀️