16/05/2011: Walk to School Week
Bolton Wanderers Community Trust has recently joined forces with national charity Living Streets to kick start this year’s Walk to School Week. The Walk to School campaign is running across Bolton as part of National Walking Month, with the aim of encouraging families to get fitter, happier and healthier by increasing their physical activity levels.
Pupils from Claypool Primary School teamed up with Bolton Wanderers mascot, Lofty and Walk to School mascot Strider to show their support for the Walk to School Week which runs from Monday 16 May until Friday 20 May.
BWCT have recently received funding from the Premier League and the PFA to run a new Active Families project in Bolton for three years to help tackle family health issues. The funding will help increase education, sports provisions and activities in the area whilst helping motivate the town’s residents to lead healthier and more active lifestyles.
Launched in 1995, the Walk to School campaign runs nationwide and is run by Living Streets to encourage all parents and children to make walking to school part of their daily routine. Over 1.6million pupils take part in the campaign in both primary and secondary schools. Living Streets is a national charity established in 1929 to create safe, attractive and enjoyable streets for where people want to walk.
New research by Living Streets has shown the barriers children face each day that prevent them from walking to school, with 36% fearful of cars travelling too fast and a fifth of respondents scared about the lack of safe crossings.
During Walk to School Week, BWCT will be hosting a WoW (Walk Once A Week) schools event at the Reebok Stadium where children who walk to school at least once a week will be invited to enjoy a variety of activities including a stadium tour, football coaching and a road safety quiz. WoW is delivered in schools across Bolton in partnership with Bolton Council. For more information on the event click here
Tony Armstrong, Chief Executive of Living Streets said:
“We are really excited to be holding a Walk to School Week launch event with Bolton Wanderers Community Trust and hope that the event inspires children to get into the walking habit.
“If we are to avoid the Government’s prediction of a quarter of our children being obese by 2050, we need to start making changes to our lifestyle now. We would love everyone who normally drives the school run to use this week as an excuse to try walking. We think you’ll be amazed at how enjoyable a regular walk can be; a chance to spend real quality time together, and reap health rewards for all the family.”
Ian Laithwaite, Bolton Wanderer’s Community Trust Manager added:
“We are delighted to get involved with Living Streets – a national charity that echoes our own project aims for the town of Bolton with regards to physical activity and the importance of healthy living.”
For more information about Walk to School Week, please visit www.walktoschool.org.uk
08/05/2011: One Bolton 5k
HUNDREDS of runners, joggers and walkers surged through the start line to take part in the first ever One Bolton 5km race.
The One Bolton 5k is a partnership between The Bolton Wanderers Community Trust, Bolton Council and Active Synergy. One Bolton is a community cohesion initiative that aims to bring Bolton together to celebrate its diverse community and embrace equality through partners that are working together for the good of the community. This event sees the people of Bolton taking part and raising money for all sorts of worthy causes personal to themselves. In addition the event sees the launch of the Active Families project which is funded by the Premier League/PFA charitable fund along with partners from the PCT and Get Active.
The project deliver a wide range of education work in schools linking in with a calendar of family events aimed at allowing parents and children take part together in physical activity, the One Bolton 5k being the feature event of this year.
The run, which saw more than 400 people don their trainers, started outside the Reebok Stadium yesterday, when a horn was sounded by Bolton Wanderers’ captain Kevin Davies and the Mayor of Bolton, Councillor John Byrne. People of all ages and abilities — including Whites’ goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen — set off on the 5km course along Burnden Way and around Red Moss nature reserve. Many people were raising money for good causes and it was also an opportunity for people to get active and promote Bolton’s community.
The winner was Bolton United Harriers’ Anthony Valentine, who completed the course in close to 16 minutes. Stuart Barnes, manager of Farnworthbased Zac’s Youth Bar, was among 10 runners raising £350 for the youth club. Mr Barnes, aged 44, of Little Lever, said: “This is a great thing for Bolton. It’s really good that people can do this to raise money and improve their health.” Zulfi Jiva, aged 31, of Over Hulton, was one of six runners representing Bolton Council Of Mosques. He said: “I got involved in the race to help create cohesion and cultural integration. “It was a great course and I finished in my best 5k time, so I’m very pleased.” The race was followed by a 2,012 metre family fun run and attractions including fairground rides, a climbing wall and a bucking bronco. It was hailed as a successful event for the community in Bolton. Whites star, Kevin Davies, said: “This has been a great way to promote the community and raise money for different groups. I came here with my family to show my support. It’s been a good, fun day.” Cllr Byrne added: “It’s great that all these people are competing in a fabulous event for One Bolton''.
