Professional basketball players are shooting around schools in Worthing reminding local school children of the importance of living a healthy lifestyle.
The Hoops 4 Health programme, a partnership between Worthing Thunder and Southern Water, is visiting ten schools across the town promoting the importance of keeping fit and healthy, eating a balanced diet and drinking enough water.
More than 1,000 children, aged 9 and 10, will be taking part in the scheme. It involves five sessions at each school the first of which is an interactive roadshow that educates students about how to stay fit and healthy in a fun and enjoyable way. Players and coaches from the club will then return and run four basketball coaching sessions.
Each school will then take part in an inter-school knock-out tournament with the final being played at one of Worthing Thunder’s home matches later in the season.
The programme is supported by West Sussex County Council and the University of Chichester, with students helping to deliver the educational aspects of the programme.
Andy Shaddick, public affairs manager at Southern Water, said: “Using professional sports people to educate young people about the importance of living a healthy lifestyle is a really effective way of getting the message across. Drinking enough water is essential for staying fit and healthy and for boosting concentration and is particularly important during exercise. We are delighted to supporting such an important scheme.”
Frank Gainsbury, Director of Worthing Thunder is excited at this latest venture: “Hoops4Health is designed to encourage children to lead a better and healthier lifestyle and there is no better way to reinforce this type of message than to have professional sports people arrive at the schools and deliver the message in a fun and energetic way. We simply could not have provided this really important opportunity to the children in Worthing without the generous support of Southern Water,” he said.
Sussex Community NHS Trust’s Health Improvement Specialist, Maggie South, described the scheme as: “Providing an opportunity to make a big impact for both the children and their families in terms of physical activity and promoting healthier lifestyles. The programme will not only support aspects of the National Curriculum but will provide learning opportunities to enhance Personal Social Health and Education.”
The Hoops 4 Health programme is currently visiting the following schools with further schools due to participate early in 2012:-
For more information on Hoops 4 Health, please contact the Club's marketing director Paul Shackman on 07860888318.
