Press Release
Thursday 29 September 2016
JESSICA ENNIS-HILL CREATES VitalityMove – A NEW RUNNING AND MUSIC EVENT
SERIES THAT MAKES MOVING FUN FOR EVERYONE
Great Britain’s heptathlon star, JESSICA ENNIS-HILL, has today stepped up her mission to
help get the nation fit and healthy, by teaming up with Vitality to launch VitalityMove – two
incredible events that combine her passion for running and music and her desire to encourage
everyone to take achievable steps to a healthy life.
The events, scheduled for July and September 2017, are set to attract 10,000s of people and
will play host to a range of great activities for families, beginners and committed runners alike.
From one mile music fun runs and family races, to the more traditional 5k and 10k distances,
VitalityMove represents an exciting new format for events in the UK, with a focus on
encouraging people to move more by making running fun.
All of the runs will take place alongside themed music that will be specifically developed by
Jessica’s friend – legendary DJ, TREVOR NELSON. Trevor will be attending both events
alongside Jessica, using his music expertise combined with an understanding of what the
British public run to, to help inspire the nation to get active.
The venues for the events, one in the north of England at CHATSWORTH, Derbyshire, and
one in the south at WINDSOR GREAT PARK, will combine iconic backdrops and worldrenowned prestige. VitalityMove will take place on July 9th at Chatsworth and September 17th
at Windsor Great Park, in the shadow of the historic castle.
Jessica specifically chose her long term partner, VITALITY, to bring her idea to life due to their
shared vision around health and wellness. Vitality is an innovative health and life insurer that
explores and develops new and exciting ways to help encourage and motivate everyone,
regardless of their current state of health and fitness, to take steps to a healthier life.
Speaking about the event, Jessica said: “I have been so lucky to have got so much out of my
sport – not only a career but a lifestyle. Leading a healthy and active life does not have to be
a chore – it really can be enjoyable. I have teamed up with Vitality to create new events that
aim to be inclusive and to appeal to as many people as possible – using music and running
together to create a fun atmosphere. Whether you are a first time runner or a seasoned athlete
we will cater for you – and hopefully make it a day to remember. But above all we want the
experience leaving you to want to do more events.
Vitality’s core purpose is to make people healthier and to enhance and protect their lives, and
the partnership with Jessica to stage VitalityMove is a great way to highlight the importance of
health and wellness.
Neville Koopowitz, CEO of Vitality, said: “We’re delighted Jessica chose us to be her partner
on this fantastic event. VitalityMove will be a great opportunity for everyone, no matter who
they are, to have a fun and healthy day out.
“Our research shows that life expectancy can be improved by more than three years through
an increase in daily activity levels. At Vitality we want to encourage people to change their
everyday behaviour and take regular small steps to a healthier life. Jessica shares this vision
and we both believe that providing enjoyable and engaging ways to exercise helps motivate
people to start and stay on their journey to wellness.”
The event’s official charity will be DIABETES UK, and Jessica is using the awareness
generated, as well as funds raised, to support the charity’s aim to educate the 11.9 million
people in Britain currently at increased risk of Type 2 diabetes of the dangers and prevention
measures available to them.
VitalityMove has also teamed up with NUFFIELD HEALTH, who will support participants with
expert advice. The leading not-for-profit UK healthcare organisation provides access to
thousands of health experts through its hospitals, fitness & wellbeing gyms, corporate fitness
and wellbeing centres and stand-alone medical centres, making Nuffield Health the perfect
partner to help participants get fit and healthy and then stay fit and healthy.
VitalityMove will be delivered by mass participation event specialists, HUMAN RACE who
have 26 years of experience, delivering 40 events a year for 100,000’s of people. Their
flagship events include the London Winter Run, Dragon Ride and Windsor Triathlon.
For more information, visit www.vitalitymove.co.uk
-ends-
For PR enquiries, please contact:
Dan McMillan
Head of PR, Vitality
07824 604 926
[email protected]
Notes to editors:
Jessica Ennis-Hill
Jess Ennis-Hill is one of Britain’s greatest-ever female athletes - Olympic Heptathlon
Champion 2012, Olympic Heptathlon silver medalist 2016, World Heptathlon Champion in
2009 & 2015, European heptathlon Champion 2010 and the British Heptathlon Record
Holder.
As the unofficial face of London 2012, Ennis-Hill, won the admiration of the British public
when she rose above the weight of the country’s expectation and won the heptathlon gold in
a British Record. This was followed by three years of limited training, and competing, as a
result of injury in 2013, and having her first child in summer 2014 – a boy ‘Reggie Ennis-Hill’.
A combination of her immense skill and sheer graft led her to win the 2015 World heptathlon
title – something not even she could have ever expected, and this summer added another
Olympic medal with a silver in the heptathlon.
Jess, a psychology graduate from the University of Sheffield has little time to relax given the
rigours of training for seven events, but enjoys spending quality time with her husband, Andy
and son Reggie and their chocolate Labrador Myla.
She is coached by Toni Minichiello.
Trevor Nelson
Born in Hackney to a family of St Lucian heritage, Trevor Nelson (MBE) is a British DJ and
presenter. His first job was in a shoe shop, but his love of music meant a part-time role as a
DJ. Nelson found daytime work at a record importer in 1985, and widened his DJ experience
putting on “warehouse parties” on the weekends.
As a pioneer in the urban scene, Nelson started his broadcasting career at then pirate station
Kiss in 1985. In 1990 it became Kiss 100 London (Kiss FM) and it was here that Nelson
became director of the station and daytime DJ. Behind the decks Nelson cut his teeth as a DJ
with Soul II Soul and promoted numerous club nights including the now legendary Lick parties.
In 1996, Nelson moved to BBC Radio 1 to present the first ever national RNB show, ‘The
Rhythm Nation’, a year later beginning a Saturday afternoon programme which resulted in his
winning of a MOBO Award in 1997 as Best DJ.
Nelson currently broadcasts across two radio networks. He presents weekdays, Monday to
Friday 10:00am until 13:00 show on BBC Radio 1Xtra and started presenting Rhythm Nation
on Saturday evenings on BBC Radio 2 in July 2016, replacing his Wednesday evening soul
show.
He has released seven compilation albums and continues to DJ around the UK and Europe,
and is now in his 10th summer residency in Global Room nightclub in Pacha, Ibiza. He was
appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2002 for his contribution to the
Millennium Volunteers programme.
About Vitality – changing health and life insurance for good
Vitality is the insurance business that helps people understand how they can improve their
own personal health. Vitality makes it cheaper and easier for its members to get healthy and
gives them rewards to keep them motivated, through a range of discounts and incentives.
Vitality believes in the power of sport to help inspire people to live a healthy life, which is why
it partners with leading sports figures, teams and events to help share the Vitality message.
Vitality Ambassadors Jessica Ennis-Hill, Jonny Wilkinson and Joe Root are role models who
embody the values of Vitality. They are all using their passion for living a healthy lifestyle to
motivate others to make positive changes. Taking small steps today can dramatically
improve wellbeing over the long-term, regardless of your current state of health.
Vitality is Official Wellness Partner of Arsenal FC, AFC Bournemouth, Liverpool FC,
Manchester City FC, England Rugby, Scottish Rugby, the Welsh Rugby Union, Cricket’s UK
Test Match Grounds and England Netball. The business has also partnered with the RSPCA
for Big Walkies, is title sponsor of the Vitality Run Series and Official Partner of The Sunday
Times and Sky Sports Sportswomen of the Year Awards in association with Vitality.
VitalityHealth is one of the UK’s leading private medical insurers and has pioneered the
‘shared-value’ insurance model. This is a unique approach which delivers value for Vitality
members through rewards and ultimately better health. Society as a whole also benefits, as
do the company’s profits, which comes about as a result of people being healthier and
claiming less often.
VitalityLife is one of the fastest growing life insurers in the UK. It is unique to the current UK
protection market and its suite of products includes Life Cover, Income Protection Cover,
Serious Illness Cover, Business Protection and other additional products. By recognising
people's efforts to look after themselves, VitalityLife is able to offer a more comprehensive
set of benefits than traditional providers at a very competitive price.
For more information, visit www.vitalitymove.co.uk