Geared up for fitness

By Lia Bichel
STUDENTS from Keysborough College missed the bus last week and rode their bikes to school as part of National Ride2School Day.
The students joined over 100,000 Australian kids who celebrated the annual event with their schools by eating healthy breakfasts and participating in all-day cycling festivals, school parades and bike excursions.
Robert Sharp, a Keysborough College teacher and Ride2School co-ordinator, said the event, on 17 March, was a good opportunity for students to get active.
The ‘Go For Your Life’ event was aimed at promoting physical activity as a means of transport which has proven benefits to a child’s health and wellbeing.
Ride2School events manager Mary Akiki said by actively getting to and from school, student’s daily physical activity increased significantly, which “benefits their overall health and helps reduce the risk of obesity and associated health problems.”
Mr Sharp said staff at Keysborough College continued to encourage students to be environmentally-friendly through similar initiatives.
“We are a new school and encourage students to be active through the bicycle club, Hands Up survey and our ecological school principles,” he said.
“The survey tracks which students walk or ride to school, or take public transport.
Among other things, bicycling allows students to feel connected to the college and forge friendships by riding with each other to school.”