PRIMARY SCHOOL KIDS WALK THE GOLDEN MILE!

Local primary school youngsters flocked to Marley to take part in the Golden Mile walking initiative on Tuesday.  The event was set up to promote health and fitness for young children as part of the Bradford Council's b-active campaign.  The Golden Mile competition will go a long way to encourage children to take part in physical activity, adopt a healthy lifestyle and challenge the onset of obesity.  The theme of the event was the road to the 2012 Olympics visiting famous sporting venues on the way.  Nearly 500 school children did the walk at Marley, which also gave participants the opportunity to raise funds through sponsorship for their school and Manorlands.  To add an educational element to the walk the schools clocked up miles enroute, this took in different 'venues' which were sign posted on the walk.  The school groups had hoped to clock up 216 miles, the distance to London, where the 2012 Olympics will be held.  The first milestone was Cougar Park (one mile), Valley Parade (eight miles). Anfield (71 miles), Silverstone (158 miles) until they reached an equivalent walk to London in one event.  The partners involved in the event were Education Bradford the Council's Community Sports development Unit, Oakbank Sports Partnership, NHS, PCT, Keighley Cougars, Bradford City, Healthy Schools and Sue Ryder Care.  Each pupil who completed the walk received a promotional goody bag which included a b-active pack, a free swim voucher and a range of NHS promotional freebies.  Oakbank Partnership Development Manager Steve Bell said: "This was a fantastic opportunity for the Year 3 students in the Oakbank School Sport Partnership to take part in a very worthwhile and healthy activity.  "The beauty of an event such as this, organised by our Competition Manager Chris Smith, is that any Year 3 student could take part regardless of their fitness or skill level". 

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