WELSH cycling star and INEOS Grenadier Luke Rowe made a special visit to Fochriw Primary School in Caerphilly, to award the School with The Daily Mile Children’s Fit for Life Award.
The Daily Mile, supported by INEOS, was established in 2012 by Elaine Wyllie MBE, to get primary school children running, walking or wheeling for 15 minutes during the school day. It’s a simple, free, fun, and inclusive initiative which has proven to be transformational for children’s health and wellbeing.
Fochriw Primary School joined The Daily Mile programme in 2016 has been awarded the Children Fit For Life award after showing consistent participation in The Daily Mile.
Luke Rowe, the eight-times Tour de France rider and one of the most respected road captains in cycling, joined the entire school to complete their Daily Mile. In recognising the school’s award, Rowe talked to the children about the importance of keeping active, especially from a young age: “It’s fantastic to see schools embracing The Daily Mile. Keeping active from a young age is so important, and what better way to do it than something as simple as running or walking together. I’ve seen first-hand how The Daily Mile can inspire children to enjoy exercise and build lifelong habits, which is so important for their health and well-being.”
In Wales, 72% of primary school teachers say that children’s levels of physical activity are declining, according to research from The Daily Mile. This is having a direct impact on children’s health and on their overall development.
Sharon Pascoe, Headteacher of Fochriw Primary shared their excitement about receiving the award and Rowe’s visit: “We’re delighted to receive the Daily Mile Children’s Fit for Life Award. It’s a testament to the dedication of our staff and pupils, who have made physical activity a core part of our school culture. Having Luke Rowe here today has been incredibly inspiring for the children—they’ve learned that exercise can be fun, social, and something they can continue throughout their lives.”
Welsh Athletics is the official implementation partner of The Daily Mile across Wales, working to ensure that the program reaches as many children as possible.
James Williams, CEO of Welsh Athletics, emphasising the importance of initiatives like The Daily Mile, commented: “Increasing physical activity levels across Wales is an area that Welsh Athletics is deeply passionate about. Through our partnership, we are committed to advocating that every school in Wales has The Daily Mile embedded in the School day, and through this ensuring that every child in Wales has access to physical activity opportunities.
Gordon Banks, Global Director of The Daily Mile Foundation: “We are thrilled today to be able to celebrate the commitment of Welsh schools, like Fochriw Primary, to daily physical activity. Embedding physical activity into the culture of a school can have a transformational impact on the wellbeing and happiness of children, supporting their learning and personal development. Luke Rowe is a positive role model on and off the bike, so we’re sure he has provided the children with some additional motivation to keep up their Daily Mile activity.”
For more information about The Daily Mile and the Children’s Fit for Life Award, The Daily Mile Children Fit For Life Award | The Daily Mile UK
