In a special phone hook-up with staff in all 28 Southern Cross Residential Aged Care facilities across NSW and the ACT, Mr John Ireland (CEO NSW and ACT) launched the `Tour de Southern Cross” by firing the starting gun from the St Joseph’s Apartments, Tweed Heads.

The Parkes staff members are part of 400 Southern Cross employees taking part in the 10,000 Steps Project that is part of a wider well being initiative.

Not only does it aim to promote better physical health for workers but also seeks to enhance team working skills and boost self esteem.

Care Team Manager Carol Shambrook said the Parkes Southern Cross Village had entered seven teams in the virtual marathon event.

“Staff are very excited and feel confident that our teams will feature regularly amongst the prize winners,” Carol said.

The `tour’ is being staged in two parts.

Part 1 ends in Parkes in December while Part 2 will run between February and March 2010 – finishing in Moama.

All participants are currently wearing a pedometer that was given to them free and are competing for prizes that will be awarded to the race and stage winners, along with teams who achieve personal best results along the way.

“Our Southern Cross staff needs to maintain their fitness and retain their sense of fun in order to maximize the care of our residents,” Mr Ireland said.

“This walking challenge will enhance those attributes and further improve our team work with the opportunity to win prizes an added bonus.”