FREE BIKES PROVIDE PLENTY OF PEDAL POWER TO KISMET PARK PRIMARY KIDS
Saturday, 23 October 2010
Two pupils from Kismet Park Primary School, Sunbury Heights Primary School and Sunbury Primary School will each receive free bicycles as part of the Victorian Government’s 1000 bike Ride2School giveaway, the Member for Macedon, Joanne Duncan announced today.
The two lucky recipients were nominated for the prize by their school for their leadership qualities. All nominees were selected as a reward for either participating in their school bike club or taking part in a bicycle education program.
Two students from 500 Government and non-Government schools across the state will receive free bicycles before Christmas as part of the Ride2School 1000 Bikes Student Leadership Reward.
Ms Duncan said pupils from Kismet Park Primary School, Sunbury Heights Primary School and Sunbury Primary School were leading the way in the Victorian Government’s ‘Go for your life’ Ride2School Program, being run in conjunction with support from Bicycle Victoria.
“We want to give our children the best start in life and that means getting them off the couch and being more active,” Ms Duncan said.
“Studies show that children who are involved in sport and recreation at a young age are more likely to remain active as adults.
“The Victorian Government’s ‘Go for your life’ program aims to stem the tide against the looming epidemics of obesity and diabetes – and help our children who are particularly at risk of developing these preventable diseases.”
Figures show that the number of children walking or riding to school has dropped sharply since the 1970s from 80 per cent to just 20 per cent choosing an active form of transport to get to school.
Ms Duncan said walking or riding to school was an easy way for young people to get some of the 60 minutes exercise they need every day to stay healthy.
“These bikes will help the Year 6 pupils who receive them make an active transition to secondary school and hopefully develop riding as a life-long habit.”
Each child will also be given a free helmet.
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