IN the year Glasgow hosts the Common-wealth Games, the Evening Times is launching its Active 2014 campaign to improve people's health and build a lasting legacy of physical wellbeing.

Focusing on individuals of all ages, we aim - along with our partners Glasgow Life and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde - to help people become healthier.

You don't have to run a marathon - but if you want to, don't let us hold you back! The positive message of this campaign is that even the smallest of changes in activity and lifestyle can make a huge improvement in health.

We will target a series of health goals, including basic fitness, diet , reducing obesity and stopping smoking.

We want to do all this by raising the profile of health and fitness initiatives and opportunities.

We're aiming to improve the health of everyone - and that is no empty boast.

From basic fitness advice and classes to help with specific problems, we will be raising the profile of good health and wellbeing to achieve lasting change.

In print and online at www.eveningtimes.co.uk there will be interviews, features, tips and advice. Each week we will offer suggestions as well as looking at what people of all ages across the West of Scotland are doing to get moving.

The first step is the easiest - just visit the Evening Times website and enter via the Lifestyle section, or phone our Active 2014 call centre on 0808 111 2014, text the word Active to 64343, or email info@active2014.org.

From individuals to organisations and businesses, we want to hear from you and work together to get Glasgow Active in 2014.

In 2011, 39% of adults (aged 16 years and over) within NHSGGC were active at the recommended level of 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on five or more days of the week. Men proved more likely to meet the target than women at 47% against 30%.

Since 2003, the proportion of adults achieving the recommended levels of activity has increased from 35% in 2003.

However, the proportion of women achieving the recommended levels has declined, from 34% in 2008 to 28% in 2011.

As well as fun events, from a mass tea dance and Easter bunny hop to the Women's 10K, there will be professional resources on hand to give you every-thing you need to feel good, from smoking cessation support, to classes on how to tackle obesity and gym memberships.

Active 2014 follows the successful Evening Times Glas-goals campaign which had the aims of walking a million miles; stubbing out a million cigarettes and shedding half a million pounds in weight over the course of a year.

The campaign included a swimathon as well as free swims for families at pools across the city, and events, such as the Race for Life, Sport Relief mile, the Bellahouston 5K and Women's 10K, which all saw numbers soar the city got off their couches and got behind Glas-goals.

The campaign attracted cross-party political support, with MPs calling for Glas-goals to be used as a model for tackling poor health.

By the end, Glasgow had walked more than a million miles, stubbed out an incredible 15m cigarettes and shed a staggering 514,000 pounds in weight.

angela.mcmanus@ eveningtimes.co.uk