Press Release - Belfast City Marathon - 1/25/22

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 Healthy Body, Healthy Mind, Healthy Finances as CompareNI Partner Marathon 
                       with Money Health Check Tool

January has been the month of setting new health and fitness goals for 2022 
as many people from across Northern Ireland set their sights on the 
marathon, team relay or 8-mile walk in this year's Mash Direct Belfast City 
Marathon.

But how many people have considered a financial health check this January?  
With the cost of living on the rise and energy bills at an all time high, 
it's never been so important for households to review their spending. 

Data from the financial services industry indicates that Northern Ireland 
is the region of the UK where people are most worried about money.  48% of 
people are stressed and worried about money regularly* and 39% of people in 
Northern Ireland feel they need to adjust their way of life to cut back and 
make it easier to cover essential spending**. 

The same findings show that 82% say running helps clear the mind - reducing 
stress & anxiety, with research showing that a daily 20-minute run improved 
the athlete's ability to deal with stress by 29%***.

Organisers of the Mash Direct Belfast City Marathon are delighted to 
announce they will be working with new sponsor, CompareNI.com, to help 
launch its #MoneyHealthCheck – an online tool designed to give tips on how 
to create more savings for Northern Ireland households and help people 
understand their finances, so they can make real changes that put their 
mind at ease.

CompareNI.com is born and bred in Northern Ireland, currently celebrating 
its 12th year helping local families save money.  It wants to take this 
further and support local communities by helping them reduce financial 
worries, save on household bills and avoid overspending.

Ian Wilson, Managing Director, CompareNI.com says: "We feel a healthy body 
and healthy mind go hand in hand.  The Mash Direct Belfast City Marathon is 
the ideal partner to support our new initiative and encourage people to get 
fit and healthy, reduce their spending and ease financial worries.  We are 
looking forward to working with the event for its 40th year as we celebrate 
our own 12th milestone helping local families save money."

The CompareNI.com #MoneyHealthCheck calculator is available here: 
www.compareni.com/healthcheckcalculator.htm

The 40th Mash Direct Belfast City Marathon takes place on Sunday 1st May 
2022 with a Marathon, Team Relay and 8 Mile Walk option available.  Enter 
now at www.belfastcitymarathon.com to enjoy the middle rate.  Final entry 
will be on Friday 8th April 2022.

Volunteer opportunities are available for race weekend including the new 
Expo and Pack Collection, which will be held on Friday 29th and Saturday 
30th April in the Titanic Exhibition Centre.  Visit the event website for 
more details.

The Mash Direct Belfast City Marathon is sponsored by Athletics Northern 
Ireland, Daily Mirror, Belfast City Council, Better, Cool FM (Downtown 
Radio and Downtown Country), Translink, Belfast Live, Tayto, Four Star 
Pizza and CompareNI.com.  This year's official charity is Cancer Focus 
Northern Ireland.

Articles sources:

*https://moneyandpensionsservice.org.uk/2020/11/11/shame-upb
ringing-and-burdening-others-why-29-million-uk-adults-dont-feel-comfortable
-talking-about-money-despite-feeling-worried-about-it/?cn-reloaded=1

**https://consumerinsight.which.co.uk/reports/consumer-insight-report-2021-
northern-ireland/

***https://www.coachmag.co.uk/mental-health/8602/how-running-can-improve-yo
ur-mental-health

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