Beat the Street, in East London was completed with a prize giving ceremony, staged at the Velodrome, on Tuesday 17 November.
The iconic home of cycling for the 2012 Olympics was a prestigious venue for the winning teams to receive their trophies and prizes. Their competition was set in and around the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and surrounding boroughs.
The seven-week walking challenge was taken up by 78 schools and community groups across Waltham Forest, Hackney, Newham and Tower Hamlets and challenged residents to race to space and, in turn, improve their health. Twenty-two thousand residents tried the game, collectively travelling over 103,958 miles into space.
The winning teams were presented with trophies by representatives from the National Charity Partnership in the centre of the Velodrome track.
Mark Camley, Executive Director of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park spoke at the ceremony saying: “Congratulations to all who took part in this competition. Our park is at the centre of your community and it has been great to see so many of you coming and enjoying Beat the Street and the park’s facilities.”
Babs Evans, Head of Prevention for the National Charity Partnership, explains; “Being inactive can lead to a multitude of health problems for children, including an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and heart disease in later life. It has also been associated with concentration and behavioural issues in the past. The benefits of physical activity outside of the classroom and within the community are vast. Walking just half an hour a day will improve health, quality of life and wellbeing. This is also a good opportunity for families to educate themselves about their lifestyle choices.”
East London was the first of six areas where the project is to be funded by the National Charity Partnership between BHF, Diabetes UK and Tesco. These areas have been identified as at increased risk from developing Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Winning Teams:
Hackney: Millfields Community School and Baden-Powell School
Newham: Quwwat Ul Islam Girls’ School
Tower Hamlets: Chisenhale Primary School and Olga Primary School
Waltham Forest: St Joseph’s Infant School and St Joseph’s Catholic Junior School
For more information about the National Charity Partnership visit Tesco Charity partnerships.
