The Irish Heart Foundation is calling on all primary schools in Mayo to get their ropes at the ready for Skipathon 2010. Running for 26 years, the Irish Heart Foundation’s Skipathon is a hot favourite on the Irish calendar for children nationwide.
According to the Irish Heart Foundation, skipping is back in the playground and it is here to stay. Skipathon co-ordinator Jennie Blake said: “Skipping has made a comeback and it is cool again in playgrounds all around the country. Everywhere children are learning to skip double-Dutch and the really advanced kids are even performing tricks so that it is a cross between street dancing and skipping. The good news is, the more children skip, the healthier they will be.”
The national charity fighting heart disease and stroke is encouraging all primary schools to sign up their classes to take part in this fun annual event which raises vital funds towards the Irish Heart Foundation’s healthy eating and get active programmes in schools. Ten per cent of all money raised through Skipathon will also go directly towards the programmes of participating schools.
All children who take part in Skipathon will be entered into a fantastic prize draw with a chance to win the top prize of a family holiday to Eurodisney or one of five runner-up prizes, a BMX bike. That’s not all, the winner of the skipping rhyme competition will be the mascot to lead out their province’s rugby team on to the pitch. The closing date for entries to the skipping rhyme competition and prize draw is May 24.
To keep up with the new “street-skipping”, the Irish Heart Foundation has teamed up with a high-energy group called Skip-Hop which gives skipping workshops to schools in Ireland and the UK. Last year alone, Skip-Hop gave 160 skipping days in Ireland which equates to about 120 schools.
To register online or for tips on how to organise Skipathon and how to fundraise, see www.irishheart.ie/skipathon or call Elaine Carberry in the Irish Heart Foundation on 01 668 5001 to register your school and receive your skipping ropes and sponsorship cards.
