George Town children celebrate nine years of Kidfit Triathalons
To be released: 20 February 2008
More than 300 children are expected to participate in the MBF Foundation KidFit Triathlon on Sunday March 2 when the event returns to George Town to celebrate its ninth anniversary of encouraging children to be physically active.
Established as a response to growing concern about childhood obesity, the KidFit Triathlons have shown hundreds of children the health benefits and enjoyment of exercise.
The triathlons are the result of collaboration between the MBF Foundation and Life. Be in it.
The MBF KidFit Triathlons are open to boys and girls aged seven to fifteen of all fitness levels and entry is free. Distances are specially tailored for different age groups so that children of varying abilities can participate to successfully complete the course and gain an exhilarating sense of achievement.
Dr Christine Bennett, MBF Chief Medical Officer and Chair of the MBF Foundation Steering Committee, said the KidFit Triathlons are an important initiative to help combat childhood obesity in Australia.
"1 in 5 Australian children are overweight or obese.1 Numerous studies have shown that the obesity crisis is due to a combination of poor diet and low levels of physical activity because of increasingly sedentary lifestyles," Dr Bennett said.
"The MBF Foundation KidFit Triathlons are a great reminder for children that exercise can be enjoyable and hopefully will lead to a lifetime commitment to being active as part of an overall healthy lifestyle."
AFL legend and MBF Senior Manager for Tasmania, Peter Hudson, said the KidFit Triathlon is a fantastic way to inspire kids of all walks of life to get excited about physical activity in a supportive environment.
"You don't have to be a professional athlete to be a part of an event like the MBF Foundation KidFit Triathlon. I'd encourage all children to get involved and see how easy it is to get off the couch and make exercise a part of everyday life," said Mr Hudson.
"Fitness has a very important role to play in every child's life, and crossing the finish line of the Triathlon is a great way to give kids the confidence they need to feel good about getting active."
The George Town MBF Foundation KidFit Triathlon will start at 10am with registration commencing from 9am on Sunday March 2 at the George Town Swimming Pool.
Running in Hobart, Ulverstone and George Town, the KidFit Triathlons are open to all kids aged seven to fifteen in the following categories:
- 7-8 years old - 25m swim, 1km cycle, 400m run;
- 9-10 years old - 50m swim, 1.5km cycle, 600m run;
- 11-12 years old - 75m swim, 2km cycle, 1km run;
- 13-15 years old – 100m swim, 2km cycle, 1km run.
Entry forms to this free event are available online at www.tas.lifebeinit.org, from local schools and MBF Member Centres or by calling 1300 73 83 73.
About the MBF Foundation
The MBF Foundation is a charitable institution set up by MBF to support and manage important health initiatives for the community using a portion of MBF Group's investment income each year. The Foundation is focussing on three key areas – wellness and obesity, supporting healthy ageing and keeping healthcare affordable.
For more information, or to arrange an interview or images, please contact:
Jackie Crossman, Crossman Communications 0402 218 662 or Liz Welshman, Crossman Communications 0438 223 079
1Better Health Channel, Victorian Government
