DOROTHY Georgeson and James and Joyce O'Keeffe have walked more than 1,000 miles as part of the Walk and Talk scheme run by Manx Sport and Recreation.

At a small ceremony in Poulsom Park, Castletown, on Monday, they were each presented with a fleece jacket and a certificate.

James, of Whitestone Terrace, Ballasalla, said: 'I do rambling and am a member of the Footpath Association.

'Two years ago we started doing this to keep fit and for the companionship. We go three times a week and this (Poulsom Park) is one of the three places.'

Through the scheme, he said, he had become reacquainted with old school friends who were also walking and talking.

His wife Joyce, 67, said she was a 'fair weather walker', so for her to have clocked up 1,000 miles suggested the Manx climate was not as bad as we all think it is!

Meanwhile Dorothy, of Links Avenue, Port St Mary, endures all weathers.

'I have been here in all sorts of hideous weather,' she said.

'Six or seven of us turn up regardless. I do 10 laps (five miles) every Monday morning in Poulsom Park and also go to the NSC in Douglas.'

She joined when she stopped working at a Port Erin hotel.

'I am widowed — I love it, I have met loads of people and made lots of new friends. I have had a few health problems and this has helped to overcome them.'

The Walk and Talk scheme is the brainchild of Gianni Epifani, sport development officer at MSR, which falls under the auspices of the Department of Tourism and Leisure.

'I was given a brief of how can we get more 50-plus people into the NSC, but I don't like putting it that way because we don't want to pigeon-hole it and people of all ages now join in.'

A handful of walkers turned up to the first session at the NSC back in July 1999, now there are seven sessions a week around the Island with 300 walkers taking part.

The one in Poulsom Park is on Monday mornings and is co-ordinated by MSR Walk and Talk instructor Denise Crowley, who is leaving and handing over to Mirelle Annis.

Gianni said there were plenty of stories arising from Walk and Talk.

'We have a lady with Parkinson's disease and another with rheumatoid arthritis who lost 4.5 stone and stopped taking his medication,' he said.

'It's also about the friendship — they have Christmas parties — it's social and physical.'

Joyce said that over the years they had noticed the improvement in the health of their fellow walkers including the woman with Parkinson's disease, whose exercise had helped reduce the shakiness associated with the disorder.

So successful is Walk and Talk, it is being rolled out in schools and is particularly useful in combating obesity, particularly among students not keen on competition or contact sports.

Such is James's confidence in his continuing good health and ability to walk and talk that he is considering doing the Parish Walk next year — when he will be 68!