Olympians Mawdsley and Heffernan launch the Steps Team Challenge

Olympians Sharlene Mawdsley and Rob Heffernan have launched the Forvis Mazars 2025 Steps Team Challenge, which kicks off on Monday, January 20 and runs until Sunday, February 16.

Building on the success of last year’s event, which brought together over 3,600 participants from across Ireland, the 2025 challenge aims to inspire even more individuals, companies and communities to join the movement toward better health and wellbeing.

The 2025 Steps Team Challenge is open to teams of four (friends, family or colleagues) who can choose to walk or run, one of two virtual routes around Ireland:

* A four-province route where, with an average of 10,000 steps a day, participants will walk through all four provinces of Ireland.

* A 32-county route where participants will need to average 16,000 steps per day to journey across all 32 counties.

No matter which route participants choose, the Forvis Mazars Steps Team Challenge is designed to be inclusive, accessible and fun, encouraging everyone to take part in a spirit of community and camaraderie.

Speaking about the 2025 Challenge, Olympic 400m sprinter and European mixed 4x400m vhampion and Forvis Mazars Steps Team Challenge ambassador Sharlene Mawdsley said: “This challenge is not just about fitness – it’s about coming together. Whether you are part of a company, a club, or just a group of friends, you’ll strengthen bonds while having fun together.

“At the end of the day, it’s not about how far or how fast you go – it’s about taking those steps together and having fun while doing it.”

Joining Mawdsley as ambassador is five-time Olympic walker Rob Heffernan, who said: “In addition to being a great team bonding experience what makes the Steps Team Challenge so good is that it’s open to everyone, no matter what your fitness level is.

“It’s also the perfect opportunity to help you start the year on the right foot – getting outdoors and getting some physical activity in.”

There are over €20,000 worth of prizes to be won to help keep everyone motivated.

These include weekly giveaways and end-of-challenge rewards such as luxury overnight stays for two at the InterContinental Dublin with dinner, indulgent spa treatments paired with lunch packages, vouchers for Regatta Outdoors stores nationwide, premium tickets to see Robbie Williams at Croke Park, and over €5,000 in CleverCard pre-paid gift cards.

To take part, teams can register on the Forvis Mazars 2025 Steps Team Challenge website. Once registered, teams can download the challenge app, which connects to participants’ phones or fitness devices, to track progress. This allows you to monitor your position on the virtual route, track your team’s progress on leaderboards and see how close you are to success!

Forvis Mazars Managing Partner Tom O’Brien said: “This is our third Steps Team Challenge, and it has been fantastic to see the growth in numbers participating. This initiative offers a fantastic opportunity for companies, clubs, and organisations to strengthen their culture, foster team spirit, and bring people together in a meaningful way. Best of luck to everyone taking part in 2025.”

This year, the Steps Team Challenge proudly supports two incredible charities: Jigsaw and Focus Ireland. For every participant who registers, Forvis Mazars will donate to both charities, helping to drive positive change and support their vital work.

For further information on the Forvis Mazars 2025 Teams Steps Challenge or to register, visit: https://www.forvismazars.com/ie/en/who-we-are/forvis-mazars-in-ireland/forvis-mazars-steps-team-challenge