Increasing physical activity levels in our community is as important as ever and is the foundation of the Way2Go project according to Gareth Cashin from the Victory Community Centre.

Statistics collected by the region's hubs show that over 10,000 people took part in Way2Go activities between January and March this year.

The Victory and Moutere Hills Community Centres have recently taken over facilitating the coordination of the region's Way2Go project. Gareth will fulfil the Way2Go role at Victory in Nelson andVanessa Mairs from Moutere Hills will cover Tasman.

Gareth says when Marty Clark vacated the Way2Go regional advisory role to become the Ride On Cycle coordinator, it was a good opportunity for the two community centres to step into the coordination role.

"It will develop our professional skills and give us the opportunity to coordinate with all the Way2Go hubs across a region," says Gareth.

Gareth is looking forward to working with Vanessa Mairs and continuing to build on the great relationship that exists within the Way2Go hubs and their communities.

"We will carry on Marty's excellent work, so it's really business as usual for Way2Go, but there is just a different coordination structure now," Gareth says. "There are some wonderful dynamic programmes happening at the twelve Way2Go hubs around the region and that won't change."

Vanessa says a benefit of the joint coordination role is that it brings a rural and urban perspective to the Way2Go leadership.

"A key component of the Way2Go project is to break down barriers to physical activity," she says. "It's about connecting with local people, strengthening community networks and providing affordable and accessible programmes specific to an area."

Both Gareth and Vanessa say the participant numbers in Way2Go activities shows that Way2Go hubs are successful in making the active choice the easy choice.

The twelve Way2Go hubs are at: Saxton Stadium, Tahunanui Community Centre, The New Hub, Victory Community Centre, House 44, Moutere Hills Community Centre, Wakefield/Brightwater, Motueka, Golden Bay, Murchison, Richmond and Tapawera Sport and Recreation Society.