‘Beat the Street’ - a fun six-week competition that encourages participants to walk, run and cycle as far as possible in a journey around the world is coming to Sudbury and Great Cornard.

The initiative will transform Sudbury and Great Cornard into a real-life game in which residents are challenged to join a team and see how far they can travel. From 21 September to 2 November, special ‘Beat Boxes’ will be going up lampposts across both areas. Residents will be given special cards which they can tap against Beat Boxes to log their journey and receive points for how far they travel.

Players will be encouraged to join and create teams to be able to win big prizes. There will be prizes for the teams that travel the furthest including £500 worth of sports equipment from Decathlon for the top team and the team that tops the average points leaderboard. There are also weekly ‘lucky tap’ prizes which anyone taking part can win.

Beat the Street Sudbury and Great Cornard is an initiative run by Intelligent Health in partnership with Suffolk County Council. Taking place during Suffolk’s Year of Walking, Beat the Street is designed to inspire whole communities to get moving. More than 50,000 people have already taken part in 2016 in Hounslow, Wolverhampton, Sandwell and other towns and cities.

Cllr Tony Goldson, Cabinet Member for Health at Suffolk County Council, said: "We’re delighted to be working in partnership with Intelligent Health on this initiative. It’s very exciting because it shows that being physically active doesn't have to be a chore - it can be a lot of fun.

“I would urge anyone, of any age and ability, who lives, works or attends school in Sudbury and Great Cornard to pick up a card, get involved and play their part in helping Suffolk become the most active county in England.”

Dr William Bird, founder of Intelligent Health, the company that will deliver the Beat the Street project, added: “We developed the game to add a competitive element to physical activity as being active has a positive effect on 23 long term health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes and breast and colon cancer. Additionally, getting out and about in the fresh air is good for mental health, reduces traffic congestion and allows participants to enjoy their area.”

For more information about Beat the Street, visit beatthestree.me/SGC, follow Beat the Street on Twitter (@BTSSGC) or like Beat the Street SGC on Facebook.