Tweed fun run has serious side

APRIL 22: Tweed River High School students Grace Sleba, Georgia Kelleher, Jae Phillips and Katherine Alford get set for the Fun Run.

Crystal Spencer

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News in pictures - April 2010

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RESIDENTS should not be alarmed when they see Tweed River High School students tearing around their oval dressed in crazy costumes tomorrow; it’s just part of their fun run.

The students are fighting back against childhood obesity with the help of the School Fun Run organisation.

Tweed River High School student and event organiser Jae Phillips said the run would be part of the school’s annual cross-country competition.

“This is the first time we are doing the fun run, we are trying to get people involved and raise school spirit,” Jae said.

“The School Fun Run organisation helped us organise the event and 50 per cent of the money goes to our school for new sports equipment.”

Jae said that the best part of the activity was that any student could take part in the three-kilometre run and that a number of students from grades seven and eight had signed up for the challenge.

“We have prizes for best dressed and we are trying to promote healthy eating and exercise in the school. There is no pressure to win, it’s just for fun,” Jae said.

The School Fun Run Program organiser, Elaine Cunningham, said she was proud of the way the children and their families had supported the event and called are calling to for the community to keep a look out for Tweed River High School students on the search for sponsorship to go towards extra sporting equipment.

Last year more than 1000 schools and childcare centres across Australia used The School Fun Run Program to raise extra funding for computers, shade sails, books, playground equipment, sporting equipment and more.

There are a great range of prizes for the students up for grabs including a keyboard.

Residents who wish to donate to or sponsor the Tweed River High School students in their first ever fun run are asked to contact Elaine Cunningham at Tweed River High School.

Fat facts

• Australia currently has the sixth highest rate of childhood obesity in the world.
• Childhood obesity can lead to life-threatening conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep problems and cancer.
• 10 per cent of children worldwide are either overweight or obese.