Young take steps to a challenge

10 April 2010

HUNDREDS of children at a school were given step counters as part of a walking challenge designed to motivate them and their parents to become more active.

The children, from Upton Cross Primary in Plaistow, will be taking part in the Walk Your Dad challenge organised by the "We Are What we Do" campaign being run by Community Links.

All the 320 children in the school will each receive two sets of step counters - one for them and one for an adult in their home.

They will use them to count their steps over a two-week period. At the end of the fortnight the steps will be counted and the class with the highest number will receive a prize.

The youngsters will also be given posters with feet on them to allow them to mark and measure their progress.

The "We Are What We Do" campaign is designed to inspire people to use their everyday actions to change the world. We believe that small actions x lots of people = big change. In 2008 we published 'Teach your granny to text and other ways to change the world'; a collection of 30 actions suggested by children. Newham We Are What We do is now promoting one of the actions from our book - 'Walk Your Dad'.

The campaign has been organising a range of events to promote walking and this is its first 'family step counter challenge'. Children at Upton Cross School are the first to take part.

Frances Clarke, Newham organiser, said: "This is a very exciting phase in our walking campaign and I look forward to seeing lots of walking. The average adult should be taking 10,000 steps a day, this is a very challenging number but we will work up to it, me included.

"We are using this simple fun action to raise the issue of heart health and to motivate parents and children to take more exercise. We are encouraging children to establish healthy exercising habits for life and at the same time use their 'pester power' to promote heart health among adults.

""We Are What We Do" has been running a range of assemblies, school council and classroom sessions explaining the need for exercise and the impact of lack of exercise on health. A group of local sixth formers from St Angela's and Year 11s from Plashed School have been involved in making these presentations."

For more information, contact Frances.clarke@community-links,org www.wearewhatwedo.org.