Global Children's Challenge launched in Australia

School teachers are being encouraged to sign up their classes for free to The Global Children’s Challenge™, in an effort to improve the long-term health, wellbeing and physical fitness of Australian children.

Research globally shows shocking trends:

• An alarming 25% of Australian children are overweight or obese (Source: CSIRO Wellbeing Plan for Kids)
• If weight gain continues on its current path, 80% of all Australian adults and a third of Australian children will be overweight or obese by 2020.
• Australian Children are ranked as some the most inactive of all developed countries (Source: Adrian Cameron et al…  Aus Diab Study, Medical Journal of Australia, 2003)
• Obesity is known to be a major contributor to the current type 2 diabetes epidemic.

The Global Children’s Challenge™ is heart set on overturning these unhealthy trends. As part of the challenge, Grades 4, 5 and 6 children in Australian schools will join thousands of children from all over the world as they wear a pedometer every day and aim to get over 15,000 steps. These steps are then logged into an interactive website which takes the class on a virtual journey around the world, making exercise fun and educational.

Above: Herb Elliot and Cathy Freeman with school children at the launch of the GCC.

The Global Children’s Challenge starts on 29 September, but school teachers need to register their interest at the Global Children's Challenge website before 15th September 2010 in order to reserve their school classes a free place in the challenge.

Australian Olympic Champions Herb Elliott and Cathy Freeman are both encouraging Australian schools to take the matter into their own hands and sign up for the free program. Once registered, teachers and their classes will have the opportunity to take part alongside thousands of schools globally.

“The health of our future generations is at serious risk and it is our responsibility to do our bit in educating today’s youth on the importance of being active, everyone should be getting involved,” said Cathy Freeman.

“The Global Children’s Challenge™ will give teachers the opportunity to make a positive influence on their students’ health and fitness – not only now, but in the long term,” concluded Herb Elliott.

Registrations open now and close 15th of September 2010 and the Global Children’s Challenge™ starts 29th September, 2010. - For more information, follow this link.