HULL: The building industry is not best known for salads and low fat diets but rather for full English breakfasts and no exercise. MKM are going to have a go at changing this. After the usual over indulgences of Christmas and the New Year, MKM plan to hit ground running with an initiative that's got to be a first in the industry.

MKM branches across the UK are taking part in the MKM Heart Challenge, which takes place from 4 January to 26 February 2010, in support of the British Heart Foundation’s annual fundraising campaign - Red for Heart.

The challenge is an eight-week competition between a team in each branch, composed of employees and customers, to help reduce their risk of heart disease.

As part of the competition, each team member will set their own health goals, ranging from improving their fitness, losing weight to stopping smoking. To help motivate them, they’re asking for sponsorship from friends, work colleagues and family, and maybe even the odd customer or two.

Key health measurements will be taken at the start of the challenge such as body mass index, weight, blood pressure and hip to waist ratio. Participants will then be measured every week. The branch that has the lowest risk of heart disease will be declared the winner.

Bill Acton, managing director of MKM says, “We're well aware of our responsibilities to our staff and customers, and as we know of the good work the British Heart foundation performs and wanted to support them, we came up with this idea. If I was being honest we could all eat a bit less, drink less and take more exercise, so I'm going to stick my neck out, dig out my trainers and sign up- I hope where I go the rest will follow!”

Lucy Watson of the British Heart Foundation (BHF) commented, “This is a great initiative and we fully support MKM in their efforts to highlight this problem. Heart disease is the nation’s biggest killer and the BHF is determined to reduce the high prevalence of the disease. It is fantastic that MKM will be supporting the BHF in its efforts to make a real difference and I wish everyone luck with the challenge.”