Northern Ireland does the Daily Mile Santa Run!

With a big Santa “Ho Ho Go!” an amazing 595 schools and Early Years settings took part in The Daily Mile Santa Run on Friday 3 December, across Northern Ireland.

The event was organised by the Daily Mile Network NI to encourage children and all people to participate in the Daily Mile. The day aimed to raise awarenes of the positive impact being active can have on children’s mental health and wellbeing.

The Daily Mile™ initiative was started nine years ago by headteacher Elaine Wyllie in Sterling, and has since enjoyed momentous success with three million children worldwide now running a mile a day across 13,500 schools in 88 countries.

Dr Brenda Mc Kay-Redmond, co-Chair of The Daily Mile Network NI and Stranmillis University College lecturer, would like to thank all the children, staff, school and early years settings that took part and succeeded in making this an overwhelming success. “This has been phenomenal! Witnessing children in their Christmas attire carrying out fifteen minutes of exercise, jogging or walking, outside safely can contribute to them becoming happier, fitter and stronger. Self-esteem, wellbeing and satisfaction can also improve mental health, so let’s keep our hearts and minds healthy by having fun, friendships, fitness and freedom in the fresh air.”

Clare Drummy, Physical Activity Coordinator and Daily Mile Network NI member, says: “We are thrilled with the number of schools and early years settings who have participated in the Santa Run event. There is real appetite out there for The Daily Mile initiative across all settings. It’s free and evidence shows the huge benefits it has on children’s physical health, but also on concentration, focus, mood and behaviour. Our regional aim is to get all children everywhere participating in the inclusiveness of The Daily Mile™ in Northern Ireland.”

Colette Brolly, the Public Health Agency’s lead on physical activity said: “We were delighted to support the Daily Mile Santa Run. This was a fantastic achievement to get so many children moving on the same day, having fun and celebrating the positive benefits that daily activity can have on their physical health and emotional wellbeing.”

Wishing all a Happy and Healthy Christmas!

We would like to encourage all schools and early years settings in Northern Ireland to sign up to The Daily Mile™. To register for The Daily Mile™ please visit:  https://thedailymile.co.uk/