Rochdale pupils get active with children's charity

MedEquip4Kids mascot Pip

Pupils from Heybrook County Primary School are on their way to being the healthiest kids in town after teaming up with children’s charity MedEquip4Kids.

The youngsters from the Park Road school have joined thousands of children across the region taking part in the charity’s education programme, Get Active with Pip.

Fronted by MedEquip4Kids mascot, Pip, the programme was launched in September 2007, in conjunction with Manchester Primary Care Trust, visiting primary schools and teaching the pupils to be as healthy as possible.

MedEquip4Kids School Presenter Debbie Barker spoke to Heybrook pupils about the importance of following a healthy diet, getting enough sleep, taking care of personal hygiene and encouraging them to complete one hour of exercise every day.

Following the presentation, the pupils put their new-found knowledge to the test with pen and paper activities asking friends and family to make a donation to MedEquip4Kids in return for completing the games.

They raised £170 which will be spent providing hospitals and community health teams across the region with medical equipment to ensure children and babies receive the best possible treatment when sick or injured.

As a thank you, MedEquip4Kids presented the school with a Stay Active pack full of sports equipment to make sure the youngsters put Get Active with Pip into practice and get one hour of exercise.

School Presenter Debbie Barker said: “The children have done a fantastic job fundraising for us and we hope that they have enjoyed learning about Get Active with Pip. We would like to thank the school for inviting us to visit and helping us spread the word about MedEquip4Kids.”

The aim of Get Active with Pip is to get children across the north of England to complete 210,000 hours of exercise during the academic year.