Preventing people from getting sick in the first place is one of the key goals of the Canadian Cancer Society.

With half of all cancers preventable, a new program called Wellness Fits is aimed at getting workers healthier.

A partnership with BC Healthy Families, the program has started in Langley, with Canadian Cancer Society staff in Langley taking up the program themselves.

"We want to influence change, change in behaviour in the long term," said Shannon Todd-Booth of the CCS's Langley office.

The program targets the straightforward things that can help most people: better eating, more exercise, and avoiding unhealthy habits like smoking.

One of the slogans for the new program is "my one thing," as the CCS encourages people to find the one thing that they can easily do or change to improve health.

They are asking people to follow them on @cancersocietybc on Twitter and to share their choice of change with the hashtag #myonething.

Last week, the "one thing" for a group from the Cancer Society office, including volunteers and staff, was a half-hour walk along the Fort to Fort Trail.

Christina Beck, with Wellness Fits, said a big part of the draw for workplaces is that it's free to employers and staff.

The program can provide a "self serve" version that will allow employers and small businesses to do much of the work themselves, with information from the initiative's website.

Or, businesses can invite Wellness Fits to come into their business for an on-site consultation.

The program identifies how workplace culture and policies can be changed to ensure a healthier office, workshop, or factory environment.

Ultimately, it should benefit the business itself, as healthier employees miss less work due to sick leave, and have lower health costs in the long term.

More information can be found at www. wellnessfits.ca.

mclaxton@langleyadvance.com