Ready, set, go! Mobile March 2019 starts this week

Now in its ninth year, the Mobile March campaign aims to increase physical activity in children through awareness, education, competition and prizes.

Throughout the month, students from participating primary schools in Cardinia Shire are committing to walking, riding, skateboarding, or scooting to school where they can. For schools where active travel is a challenge, teachers encourage and support children to participate in laps around the football ovals or basketball courts, so that everyone can get active.

Cardinia Shire Mayor Cr Graeme Moore expressed his enthusiasm for the program, saying it is a positive way for Council to engage with the next generation and instil the value of physical activity and quality time spent with peers and family.

“I look forward to campaigns like Mobile March, Ride2School Day and Walk to School each year because they encourage participation and demonstrate the benefits of being physically active in a format that children across the Cardinia Shire can engage with,” Cr Moore said.

Participating in Mobile March and Bicycle Network’s National Ride2School Day on Friday 22 March is a great way for children to discover the benefits of being active and for families to consider how they can incorporate active travel into their morning and afternoon routines.

“They really get into it too and it’s great to see them learn that getting to school in an active way offers so many very real benefits, from being social with family members and friends, to expending energy and jumpstarting the brain for a day of learning.

“Last year 14 of our local schools participated in Mobile March, with more than 5,000 students getting involved. So far we’ve already got 17 schools registered for 2019!” said Cr Moore.

Council has also recently expanded the number of Stop and Drop zones available across the shire, which enables families that usually drive to school to park the car at a designated stop and drop zone or a short distance from school and walk the rest of the way. All stop and drop zones are detailed on Council’s website at www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/stopanddropzones

Each day, teachers at participating primary schools will tally the students who were active as part of the program. Participating schools will go in the running to win the coveted place and trophy for Mobile March’s ‘Most Active School’ in Cardinia Shire.

The campaign is again being promoted in partnership with Aligned Leisure and Cardinia Leisure Acting Manager, Paige Kristalyn said the Active Families initiative running throughout Mobile March provides even more chances for families to be active and win.

“We’re excited to be partnered with Council to promote the Mobile March campaign and we’re again running our Active Families, which encourages families to be active together. Participating families go in the draw to win one of four $50 vouchers or one of three $100 Coles vouchers,” said Ms Kristalyn.

Families can register for the Active Families competition online at https://alignedleisure.formstack.com/forms/mobile_march_registration

Schools can still register to participate in Mobile March 2019 by contacting Council’s Active Children’s Officer on 1300 787 624 or email [email protected]