Alex pupils to sprint ahead of obesity
ALEXANDRA – Pupils from the township will take part in a 50-hour health challenge in Rosettenville.
Pupils from Alexandra will join their counterparts from other schools in Johannesburg for a 50-hour sports challenge at the Rosettenville Sports and Recreation Centre on 22 to 24 April.
A physically active life is the message behind the 2016 Ascendis Health of the Nation 50 Hour Sports Challenge. The Alex pupils will compete in up to 15 different indoor and outdoor sport and recreational activities over the course of three days.
They will be exposed to a huge variety of sports, including cricket, tennis, hockey, rounders, table tennis, netball, soccer, rope skipping, ultimate frisbee, athletics and rugby.
“Lifestyle habits are entrenched by the age of 12, which is why health and fitness habits must be established in childhood,” said Brad Bing of youth sports development agency, Sporting Chance, the organisers of the programme.
“If you’re not playing sport or leading an active and healthy life by then, the chances are that sport and physical activity will not feature in your adult life.
“The challenge faces head-on the reality that if South African children don’t become more active, they will be facing shorter life expectancy and serious health problems,” said Bing.
Now in its 10th year, the Ascendis Health of the Nation Programme, in partnership with the newly-established Disney Healthy Happy Learning Programme, will educate 15 000 pupils from disadvantaged communities on the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.
The programme comprises three phases including a sports challenge that aims to keep a ball in motion for 50 hours, followed by an educational roadshow with follow-up school interventions thereafter.
The challenge originated after a 2004 study revealed that obesity was sprinting ahead of South African children’s health as many of them were already facing obesity-related health problems.
“It was obvious that we needed to kickstart an awareness of the importance of exercise and living a healthy lifestyle, which we hope will grow into a passion for sport and physical activity,” said Bing.
Details: Sporting Chance 021 683 7299; www.sportingchance.co.za
