All this translates into fewer heart attacks, strokes and less diabetes for our residents.

The Centers for Disease Control have suggested we aim for 10,000 steps every day to see health benefits, but most Americans only get around 5,000 a day.

Our goal is to recruit ideally 7,500 people or more to log their steps for 12 weeks.

When I was young, my parents were these titanic, infallible figures. But Mum's illness and Dad's battles with diabetes and heart attacks had a ripple effect on me - reminding me of my own mortality and that these illnesses are genetic.

You can be anything you want to be, as long as you believe in yourself.

People care and are willing to help me out my desperate circumstances.