Sixth National Fitness Day kicks off with 18,000 events

More than 4,000 venues are putting on 18,000 physical activity sessions today to mark the sixth annual UK National Fitness Day.

Leisure venues up and down the country are holding free physical activity taster sessions as people will be given access to gyms, health clubs, leisure centres and park sessions.

Hundreds of schools and workplaces are also taking part, with many holding training sessions during the day.

Retail giant Argos, a headline partner for the event, will be offering a range of activities throughout its 842 stores.

An event finder has been set up for the day, allowing those wanting to take part to find activities near to where they live by entering a postcode on the ukactive’s event finder webpage.

Organised by ukActive, the aim of the day is to inspire people to get moving while making it easy and fun.

ukActive chair and Paralympic legend Tanni Grey-Thompson says the day gives fitness providers – and companies which place emphasis on workplace health – an opportunity to “practice what they preach”.

“I was part of National Fitness Day last year and it was amazing to see the power this event harnessed, with an estimated reach of over 50 million people,” Baroness Grey-Thompson said.

“To round off an extra special year, the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games falls on the same day so I'll be tweeting from my personal profile, using the hashtag #FitnessDay all the way from Rio, along with covering the ceremony so I do not miss any of the action.”