Newstalk has announced that 100 Days of Walking will return from January 1st 2021.

Newstalk Breakfast presenter Ciara Kelly is calling on all listeners to take up the challenge of walking for just thirty minutes a day for 100 days, starting from January 1st.

It will be the fourth year running of the popular initiative.

Ciara said: "It costs nothing, anybody can do it... it's so simple.

"All ages, all shapes, all sizes, all levels of fitness: you go for a walk for half an hour a day. That's the minimum.

"It brings you all the way up to April 9th, and I'm telling you it's a great start to your year."

Ciara said a huge community has sprung up around the initiative, and many positives have come out of it over the last few years.

She said it's also something that's "COVID compatible" - a daily safe activity to enjoy even if restrictions remain in place.

Here's why you should take part

Judith Chalmers - one of the many people who have taken part in 100 Days of Walking before - says she does it for her own mental health.

She said: "I was eating and just getting lazy, and feeling sorry for herself. I saw a friend who had posted this up... I said I'd give it a go.

"I remember getting up on January 1st and thinking 'what am I doing?'. But I love it... I absolutely love it.

"I would recommend anybody to get up and do it."

She said she was initially worried taking part on her own, but praised the online community that has formed around 100 Days... - saying she has made "some lovely friends along the way".

Mary Prosser, meanwhile, has taken part for the past two years.

Think the #100daysofwalking community will expand next year ! Simple, fun & affordable for all. Thank you Ciara Kelly of @NTBreakfast for such a great initiative!Lovely chatting earlier! Wishing you all a lovely Christmas & lots of walking in 2021! 😊🚶‍♀️🎄 https://t.co/Ye3mh5HGQh

— Mary Prosser (@MaryProsser6) December 23, 2020

She'll be using this year's 100 days as training for a virtual Camino walk being organised by Focus Ireland.

However, she said she hasn't stopped walking since this year's 100 days ended back in April.

She told Ciara: "It's such a calming thing to do.

"I tend to do my walks early in the day - I think it kickstarts the day. You literally see nature unfolding... you see the buds, the flowers forming.

"It clears the clutter and mind, and sets you with a positive thought."