NewsHealthHealthPeople will be able to log their exercise and win rewards with the hope the campaign will save livesNeil Shaw Assistant Editor (Money and Lifestyle)06:27, 03 Jul 2026The NHS is to give people rewards and vouchers if they walk at least 30 minutes a day. NHS Enbgl;and is to launch a rewards system with people getting 'prizes' if they walk a marathon in a month.‌Anyone walking 30 minutes a day will cover around 26 miles- a marathon distance - in four weeks, and will get rewards as a result. Users will log their walks online via phones and smartwatches which will track time walked.‌The NHS says the rewards scheme, which will launch next year, will offer incentives and discounts. The NHS will pay for the initial creation and launch of the scheme, then hopes to attract sponsors and backers. Former Olympic medallist Sir Brendan Foster, founder of the Great North Run, has been asked by NHS England to create a campaign to get people walking.‌He said: "I'm known for running, but the ambition here is far simpler. We just want people to walk. Simple." The NHS says physical inacitivity - doing less than 30 minutes exercise a day - is linked to one in six deaths.‌Physical inactivity is associated with one in six deaths, according to NHS England. A person is classified as physically inactive if they do less than 30 minutes of moderate-intensity equivalent physical activity per week. Sport England says nearly a quarter of adults, 12 million people, are physically inactive.The aim is to sign up more than 100,000 people. Sir Brendan said he hopes streak culture, people wanting to complete the challenge every day with an unbroken series of exercises, will help people stick with the challenge. He said: "If someone walks 30 minutes five times a week, they could gain up to four extra years of healthy life."Article continues belowFull details of the voucher scheme will be released in the months ahead.Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌Great North RunNHSBrendan FosterFitnessHealth