Pupils set to run with marathon programme

Dublin People 12 Dec 2015
Pictured at the KiDSMARATHON event are Castleknock pupils Laragh White, Kate McKiernan, Abigail Knox, Courtney O’Connor, Lily Butler and Heather Murphy with Minister for Health Leo Varadkar. PHOTO: ORLA MURRAY / ARK PHOTOGRAPHY

PUPILS from Castleknock National School were on hand last week to help highlight the KiDSMARATHON programme that’s designed to tackle childhood obesity in a fun, enjoyable way.

Dublin Marathon and Fingal County Council are backing the initiative that promotes an increase in activity levels for the early teenage population.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) Ireland is set to become the most obese country in Europe by 2030,

The KiDSMARATHON programme is the first of its kind in the country and it links into the school curriculum.

To date over 600, sixth class pupils from 22 Fingal schools have taken part in the eight-week programme.

The participants completed 25.2 miles in that time, before running the last mile of the Dublin Marathon last October. Speaking about the programme.

Amy Sugrue, of Castleknock National School, said: “The programme has shown to be a truly beneficial and enjoyable activity for not just our class but the entire school as it has highlighted the benefits of health and fitness to us all.

“We started this as just an activity to improve our classes’ cross country running ability but it has made such an impact on students, teachers and parents that’s it has engaged the entire school and gotten us all more active.”

Further information on the KiDSMARATHON programme is available from Senior Sports Development Officer Niall Mc Guirk at niall.mcguirk@fingal.ie or 087-1206431.

 

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