All pupils at Marchwood Junior School took part in a “Mini-Marathon” on Thursday 23rd March between 9 am and 3 pm. The sponsored event took place on the school field and all pupils and many parents and staff completed at least one lap of a planned route of approximately 500 metres / 1/3 mile.
Participants were allowed to walk or run the route and, as one aspect of the mini-marathon was ‘personal challenge’, they were able complete as many laps as they wished, some managing 17 laps!
Extra encouragement was given to children and staff by a visit from a group of local police officers who ran the route a number of times alongside the children! Marchwood Junior is working hard to achieve ‘Healthy School’ status and the mini-marathon was one aspect of the school’s programme to encourage all pupils to undertake some form of regular, physical activity.
Many pupils were sponsored for the event and monies raised will go towards the school’s Rwandan Partnership Project Fund to enable the continuation of links with Shyogwe Primary School, Rwanda.
Headteacher, Steve Bassett, commented: “This is the first time we have organised a whole school fitness event of this sort and the children and staff really enjoyed it. What was especially pleasing throughout the day was the great feeling of personal achievement as almost everyone exceeded their personal target!
I think that the idea of doing something healthy, undertaking a personal challenge and raising money whilst having fun with their friends really appealed to all involved. From now on it will almost certainly be an annual event, by popular demand!” |
