INEOS GO Run For Fun team has recently staged its biggest-ever event at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London when 6,000 children ran the 2km course alongside a host of Olympians and TV personalities.
“We know that many parents worry about their kids eating too much and not getting enough exercise,” said Leen Heemskerk, The GO Run For Fun Foundation Project Director. “The GO Run For Fun charity aims to tackle that problem in a fun way and the huge numbers who took part show that many people share our concerns.”
Daley Thompson, the British Olympic gold medal winner, led the charge and handed out some of the prizes.
“It was a fantastic day for all the children,” he said. “Everyone had a great time and also learned a bit more about the importance of healthy eating and exercise.”
GO Run For Fun is now the world’s biggest children’s running charitable foundation.
As well as the run itself, GO Run For Fun also launched a new kids cartoon series based on Dart, the charity’s mascot.
Dart TV is aimed at 5 to 10-year-olds and explains the importance of a good diet and regular exercise.
During the day Charlie Webster, a former Sky Sports presenter, chaired a round table discussion looking at the need to get children active early if Britain is to tackle childhood obesity.
“Physical inactivity is an important factor in the current UK child obesity epidemic,” said Dr PaulSacher, an internationally respected child health and obesity expert. “Considering one in three children are overweight and obese and around 80% of children are not meeting the Government’s physical activity guidelines, it is essential that we support initiatives such as GO Run For Fun.”
Daley was joined by Olympic hurdler Colin Jackson, and Commonwealth gold medal winner Louise Hazel.
Also supporting the event was Britain’s very own Marathon Man, Rob Young, who has previously set his own world record by running 370 marathons in 365 days.
“This was a really important day for GO Run For Fun,” said Jim Ratcliffe, INEOS Chairman andfounder of GO Run For Fun. “On one level, this was about thousands of kids enjoying themselves and learning about the importance of nutrition and exercise. On another level, it is about getting the Government to realise that they need to do much more to help the under 12s get fit and active.”