A new 12-week Lifestyle Challenge has achieved double success. Not only have volunteers reported amazing results, but the Pembrokeshire-based programme has also won a top award. Programme leaders were presented with the Health Challenge Wales Trophy at the recent Health Challenge Pembrokeshire Partners' Networking event. The 12-week Lifestyle Challenge is part of a wider 'Healthy Lifestyle Project' supported by the Welsh Assembly Government Food and Fitness Grant Scheme. Community groups in Hubberston, Hakin, and Monkton, took up the Challenge, which encouraged individuals to identify areas of their lifestyle where they wanted to make changes. The community groups then hosted a session every week, for 12 weeks, where advice and support on tackling the issues was provided. Sessions were held around improving diet, taking more exercise, managing stress and reducing consumption of cigarettes and alcohol. Community health development worker, Helen Stewart, said: "A key to the success of the initiative was that the sessions were fun - people wanted to come along and take part. "All those who wanted to lose weight did, everyone had increased their aerobic capacity, flexibility, strength and reported an increased feeling of well- being. "Those involved said they are now able to make healthy choices when shopping and cooking and have continued to meet to exercise." Awarding the trophy, for the best response to Health Challenge, Chris Martin, chairman of the Pembrokeshire Local Health Board, said: "Providing support to individuals within their own communities enabled them to make changes and, most importantly, gave them the confidence and support necessary to sustain the improvements." The 12-week Lifestyle Challenge has been taken up as a model by other Health Challenge Pembrokeshire projects. Partner organisations have been able to adapt the structure to suit the needs of those they support, timescales and resources. Health Challenge Pembrokeshire is a partnership of organisations working to improve health and well- being. Further information is available at http://www.healthchallengepembrokeshire.co.uk">www.healthchallengepembrokeshire.co.uk.