(Halifax, NS) The Capital District Health Authority (Capital Health) and Sportwheels are helping make physical activity the easy choice for staff who work at the Halifax Infirmary and Victoria General sites of the QEII Health Sciences Centre. Staff, as well as physicians, volunteers and student learners now have the option to ride a bicycle – or a tricycle, when they travel back and forth to see patients or attend meetings.
This pilot project is the result of a creative partnership between Partners for Care and Sportwheels, a local sports equipment supplier located in Lower Sackville. The bikes are provided and maintained, at no cost to Capital Health, by Sportwheels. Staff simply show their Capital Health identification and sign out a bicycle.
“Making physical activity part of our daily routines is an important part of a healthy lifestyle,” says Brian Rankine, Director, Business Development, Capital Health. “Having the bike program for Capital Health staff helps make physical activity the easy choice.”
For Jeff Matthew, President of Sportwheels, the partnership is a win-win situation. “Cycling is a great way to stay active and be kinder to the environment,” says Jeff. “Capital Health is leading by example and Sportwheels is thrilled to encourage cycling.”
To make the program accessible, no special clothing is required. The four bicycles and two tricycles are step-through models that make cycling an easy choice, regardless of what you are wearing.
Partners for Care is a charitable organization dedicated to generating revenue through business initiatives to benefit patients of Capital Health. Partners for Care is proud to do its part in supporting Capital Health’s mission of “Healthy People, Healthy Communities”.
