More than 1,000 youngsters put their best feet foward at fun run

MORE than 1,000 school children from local primary schools took part in an INEOS GO Run For Fun event in Worthing this week.
Schoolchildren from across the area took part in the eventPictures: Kate ShemiltSchoolchildren from across the area took part in the eventPictures: Kate Shemilt
Schoolchildren from across the area took part in the eventPictures: Kate Shemilt

Little runners took part in the fun run at The Gallops, Bost Hill and Vale Drive, Worthing, on Thursday, with support from The Vale First and Middle School running club volunteers and other Worthing schools.

With more than 180 events and having encouraged more than 97,000 children to get running, the GO Run For Fun campaign is already the biggest children’s running initiative in the world.

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By the end of this year, it aims to encourage more than 100,000 kids to get off the couch, give the TV a rest and get active – and the campaign is well on the way to its
target.

John Mayock, three-time Olympic finalist, Commonwealth Games medallist and campaign manager of GO Run For Fun, said: “GO Run For Fun is delighted to work with The Vale First and Middle School Running Club once again. We have been amazed by the response from around the country and have great memories of our previous runs in Worthing.”

Julia Griggs, of The Vale First and Middle School running club, said: “We’re delighted to welcome GO Run For Fun back to Worthing. Everyone is really excited to be a part of it as they remember the fun they had last year.

“Last year we had around 500 children taking part, now that figure is nearly 1,000. We’ve also opened it up so that other schools can also take part this year.

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“We’re very lucky to have so many willing volunteers to help us out on the day. We have around 20 students from Worthing College coming along, as well as members of the Foxy Ladies running club and parents.

“GO Run For Fun is an easy way to inspire children to get out of the house and have fun with their friends, whilst doing something healthy.”

The campaign is the idea of Jim Ratcliffe, owner of INEOS, one of the UK’s largest manufacturing companies, which announced a £1.5m donation spread over three years to encourage children to run for fun by establishing the GO Run For Fun charitable foundation.

Mr Ratcliffe said: “I’m passionate about getting as many children running early in their lives.

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“The idea is simple – to get children out of the house having fun. It is not rocket science.

“Running is the basis of so many great sports. If our children can catch the running bug early, they’re more likely to stick to it, and this can only lead to them having more active and healthier lifestyles in the future.”

Moving more is an important part of tackling childhood obesity, which is fast becoming one of the leading areas of public health concern in England.

GO Run For Fun will continue to tour the UK throughout 2015 with other events planned for Liverpool, Portsmouth and the Richard Burton 2K Fun Run, to name just a few.

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For more information and to enter your child for INEOS GO Run For Fun events happening near you, or to register your local club or school’s interest in joining the campaign and making a difference in your area, visit www.gorunforfun.com

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