'Beat the Street' to transform Tilbury and Chadwell St Mary into an interactive game board
Walk, cycle or scoot between so called 'Beat Boxes' - tapping in with your phone or game card to score points and win prizes
Tilbury and Chadwell St Mary are set to transform into a giant interactive game with the return of Beat the Street, a challenge aimed at encouraging active lifestyles.
The game will take place from Wednesday 13th May until Wednesday 26th June, inviting people of all ages to participate in activities such as walking, cycling, running, scooting, or wheeling.
Organised by Intelligent Health in partnership with Thurrock Council, the event is free for everyone.
Children at participating primary schools will receive a player pack including a card and map, while the community can collect a card from distribution points listed on the Beat the Street website or use the Beat the Street app.
The initiative, developed by GP Dr William Bird MBE, has already been held in over 200 locations across the UK and beyond, including previous events in Essex, like Chelmsford and Braintree.
Last year, Belhus and Aveley hosted the game, seeing 1,956 participants cover 6,213 miles.
According to earlier data, Beat the Street helps promote more active lifestyles and encourages families to spend time outdoors, incentivising people to make healthy choices like walking to school daily.
As the event approaches, locals will begin noticing 'Beat Boxes' installed on lampposts throughout the area.
Participants tap these boxes with their game card, logging their journey, and then aim to tap another box within an hour to score points.
Prizes are awarded for the teams and individuals that accumulate the most miles, with leaderboards tracking total and average points to ensure teams of all sizes have a chance.
There are opportunities to help local charities receive donations, with "lucky spot" prizes for participation.
Dr Rubinder Bains, Director of Public Health at Thurrock Council, said: “The Beat the Street game has proved to be a huge inspiration in previous locations and has helped people to travel more actively across their local towns."
Dr Bains encouraged participation in the game, highlighting the health benefits and chances to explore the area while potentially winning prizes.