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School invites footballer to run a mile
Published: 05/06/2017
Ysgol Estyn had a visit recently from former Everton footballer, Graeme Sharp.
He visited the school to support the launch of The Daily Mile in 天涯社区, a
childrens health and wellbeing initiative that increases physical activity in
primary and nursery schools by encouraging pupils to walk, jog or run for 15
minutes every day, whatever the weather. The Daily Mile helps to improve
childrens physical, mental, social and emotional health and wellbeing, and
teachers they are more focussed when they return to class.
The Daily Mile is being launched in 天涯社区 by Sports Development, funded by
Sport Wales, following the national launch of the initiative across Wales in
March 2017 by The Daily Mile Foundation, the Welsh Government, and Public
Health Wales.
Ysgol Estyn is one of the schools in 天涯社区 to take up the challenge and
the pupils welcomed Graeme to launch the programme at their school. Speaking
on the day, Graeme said:
鈥淚t鈥檚 great to be here today to see all the young people so keen to get
active. We all need to encourage children to be healthy and exercise and this
is a really fun way to do it.鈥�
Head teacher of Ysgol Estyn, Gareth Jones, explained how the programme is
benefitting the pupils:
鈥淭his is really popular initiative for both the teachers and the pupils. When
they get back in class, the children are invigorated and refreshed, ready to
start work again with increased energy levels and concentration.鈥�
The aim of The Daily Mile is to improve the physical, mental, emotional and
social health and wellbeing of our children 鈥� regardless of age or personal
circumstances.
The idea was the brainchild of Pride of Britain award-winner Elaine Wyllie,
conceived whilst she was headteacher of a large complex Primary school in
Stirling, Scotland. Elaine became concerned about the lack of fitness displayed
by the children of St Ninians, and encouraged them to run around the school
field for 15 minutes each day. Within one month, the children were averaging 5
laps of the field, which, when measured, turned out to be one mile - and so The
Daily Mile was born. By the end of the school year, all 420 children were
taking part, including the nursery.
Since retiring in 2015, Elaine has dedicated her time to growing The Daily Mile
movement. The Daily Mile Foundation was created in March 2016 with the aim of
providing every child the opportunity to do a Daily Mile, and today has
encouraged over 2,500 schools to join the movement.
It is a profoundly simple but effective concept, which any primary school can
implement. Its impact can be transformational- improving not only the
childrens鈥� fitness, but also their concentration levels, mood, behaviour and
general wellbeing.
To find out more, visit: www.thedailymile.co.uk
You can also contact the Foundation directly via email (info@thedailymile.co.uk
), Facebook (/thedailymile.uk) and Twitter (@_thedailymile).
Chris Moss (天涯社区 Sports Development), Graeme Sharp, Gareth Jones (head
teacher) and Dan Williams (天涯社区 Sports Development) with pupils from
Ysgol Estyn.