The charity, Go Run for Fun, is a nationwide programme which aims to get 100,000 children running within the UK by 2016. A very real possibility, as within only a year they have had close to 25,000 school children from 80 schools participate from around the country.
Tom said, “As a keen runner myself, I love the idea of being able to inspire the younger generation to keep active and fit, with the growing numbers of children affected by obesity in our country, I think it’s a great new initiative and I completely support it.
In London only one in three boys and one in four girls achieve the recommended level of at least 60 minutes of physical activity per day and we have to do more to change that.
I hope to get local businesses to sponsor events and local schools and sports clubs to get children excited and motivated to take part.”
Tom has been in contact with Sutton Council about the matter to ask if Sutton schools will take up the initiative.
According to a recent government report, childhood obesity is a leading predictor of obesity in adulthood and tackling the obesity problem requires intervention at an early age. Once children become overweight or obese, they are less likely to exercise due to a lack of confidence, health difficulties or poor performance.
More than 1 in 5 London children, aged 10-11 years-old, are at risk of being obese; this is above the average for England as a whole (18%).To find out more please visit www.gorunforfun.com or visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/gorunforfun