What it's about

Being unhealthy often has a big impact on your general well-being and heart health. With one New Zealander dying from coronary heart disease every 90 minutes, and with the obesity epidemic hitting all ages of society, we believe it is important to create awareness around the need to take a positive step in the right direction and encourage people make one lifestyle change to improve their health.

The "Million for a Million" campaign aims to get one million New Zealanders to each make a positive lifestyle change affecting their health. Influential fashion designer and entrepreneur Annah Stretton is heading the campaign. The inspiration for the charitable project surfaced after Annah's 2012 Dry July 30-day hiatus from alcohol - a stellar effort that saw her contribute to the $500,000 raised for Northern Regional Cancer and Blood Service at Auckland City Hospital.

Heart Foundation Medical Director, Norman Sharpe commends Annah on her enthusiasm to get right to the heart of the nation’s increasing ill-health and galvanise New Zealanders into action.

“Despite medical advances, heart disease continues to be the single biggest killer of our men and women because of complex changes in the way New Zealanders live, work, eat and exercise,” says Professor Sharpe. “The journey towards heart health is about making small but achievable lifestyle changes – something that I’m certain this campaign can help inspire. We’re a charity and need public support more than ever. We’re very grateful for Annah for leading this initiative and being such a positive champion for change.”

Million for a Million is supported by Zeald, Annah Stretton, Westpac, Mediaworks, Foodstuffs, The Warehouse and the Heart Foundation who are excited to be encouraging New Zealanders and their own staff to think about their health and make a positive lifestyle change for the cause.

If you would like to join in the fight against unhealthy lifestyles, simply register here.

 

A Personal Message from Annah Stretton

Unfortunately, NZ has a huge health problem. To hold the title of the world’s third most overweight nation is nothing to be proud of, so I have come up with the ‘million for a million’ concept. I have set this country a challenge to collectively reduce our gross weight by one million kilograms. To achieve this, I need one million people to sign up to lose 1 kg each. It’s so doable and should enable a wide cross section of our nation to take part.
 
A big hairy audacious goal, but imagine if we achieve this and collectively reduce the nation’s gross weight. Even more so if we get one million people talking and doing something about their health! It doesn’t need to be huge, this is not a diet challenge, it’s a health challenge (you may want to put on weight, or support another to lose or increase weight). A small step change that will make a big difference if consistently adhered to is all that is needed (I took processed sugar out of my diet and lost 4 kgs).
 
A country talking about health, making that step to change and working together will achieve some great results. For me, it’s about championing a cause that is so important to me and has the potential to make real social change. This could be the kick-start we need to become one of the world’s most healthiest nations!
 
Our health is all we have in the end and I've lived a life of yo-yo and fad diets, so it’s time for a reality check that is about health, not weight, and this is what I love about this challenge that will refresh itself every year in October, i.e. we will reset the one million counter to zero and restart the conversations and challenges as they will need to be ongoing.
 
Yes, it’s not going to be easy to get one million people involved but I'm giving it a go.
I have some great support with Foodstuffs, Westpac and the internal team at the Warehouse. Zeald have created this perfect website, so we have launched and are heading towards our goal of one million.
Please get involved whether as an individual or there’s also the option to sign up in a group and record a collective loss.
Together we can make a difference, not only to our own health but also to the health of a nation.
Annah