Check out this great presentation he recently made!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=go_QOzc79Uc

Jamie was shattered years ago when he did a program in London schools looking at what kids ate, knew about food, and some of the politics behind this problem.

His voice , influence and impact is most welcomed by us here at SmartStart for Kids, and when combined with encouraging regular physical activity (the other side of the obesity coin - which like eating great food, is also fun), can and will make a massive positive impact for future generations - our children!

Go for it Jamie!

Deek

Never before has there been a pathway for Indigenous youth with Marathon and endurance talent, aspirations and determination.  Running to America is about offering Indigenous kids that may not have the speed and explosive power to excel at AFL, ARL, Boxing and Sprinting, the chance to take on the best, win, and travel the world.

Approximately six Indigenous youths, aged between 18 and 30 will be identified in 2010 and trained to compete in the 2010 New York marathon in November.  Each runner will be supported by our Marathon Coach, John Bell, and will work under Rob de Castella’s watchful eye and direction.

We have recently conducted interviews and talent testing with applicants in the Northern Territory and WA.

We have received wonderful support from the FACSHIA, the Australian Federal Police, the NT Police, the Clontarf Foundation, Athletics Australia, the Australian Sports Commission’s Indigenous Sports and the State and Territory Sports Development Officers, all who are assisting us in recruiting and then supporting these kids on this amazing journey.

The journey will be filmed and a three part documentary series will be produced by Goodoil Films with renowned Producer Jen Peedom (Producer of “Miracle on Everest” and “Solo”).

Rob believes that, maybe, we can find an Australian Indigenous runner to take to the very top of interneational elite marathon running.  Indigenous history is full of amazing endurance achievements and feats, from ‘message sticks’ to hunting and tracking.  The talent is there, Running to America is about seeing if we just can find it, support and encourage it, and give it the opportunity to flourish.

Runners from the sqaud have recently participated in the Australia Day fun run in Darwin and a new event at Santa Teresa (about 80k outside of Alice Springs).  You can see SBS story on these events at Living Black on http://player.sbs.com.au/naca/#/naca/living_black/Latest/playlist/Marathon-Effort/

For more information on this exciting project and how you can get involved please visit www.themarathonproject.com.au

Attached are some photos from recently held Family Fun Days.

• 5th September 2009 - St Benedicts PS
• 19th September 2009 - Evatt & Giralang PS

These days give an opportunity for the kids to show Mum, Dad and siblings some of the fun games and activities they have been doing over the last six weeks, as part of HELP.  It is also an opportunity for us to reward and recognise the children’s improvement, commitment and contribution to each of the HELP program.

All HELP kids receive Achievement Certificates and special (activity) toys and games to take home and play with the family to keep everyone active.  Parents receive an updated SmartStart Folder Report and they can see exactly how much improvement their child has made, as well as get heaps of tips, advice and information about health and fitness.

Erin and Liz recognised by SmartStart

On Wednesday 5th August, SmartStart for Kids achieved a huge milestone, with the 45,000th kids fintess and health measure, at Maribyrnong Primary School in Canberra.  This year also marks the seventh year that Maribyrnong Primary school have participated in SmartStart for Kids, and Principal, Liz Coggin (picture with Rob and Erin Foley) commented on how important the school wide statistical report is to enabling them to evaluate their PDHPE program and identify health and fitness issues to target.

Congratulations to Erin Foley, our 45,000th SmartStart kids.  Erin recevied a specialy framed certificate, sporting equipment and also gets a free SmartStart Premium Folder kit.

SmartStart has compiled the largest longitudianal database of primary school aged children’s health and fitness statistics in Australia, and is able to provide a wide range of reports, analysis, and identify physical health issues early and addressed before they become problematic.

If you would like your child to participate, contact Leanne on 02 6260 5750.

SmartStart for Kids joined ACT Community Services and recently launched the Solid Young Fellas Health and Wellbeing Forum.  This is a special five week program for indigenous teenagers, and includes regular education and activity based sessions aimed to improve their fitness, health and understanding about healthy living.  SmartStart will be conducting health and fitness checks and delivering activities each week.  We are all excited to see what can be achieved with these kids over the program. …stay tuned to the results.

Good for Kids, Good for Life visits SmartStart for Kids

SmartStart for Kids hosted Rob Lewis, a representative of the Good for Kids, Good for Life, children’s health program from the Hunter New England Health Region of NSW.  They are currently investigating other programs that might support and sustain the improvements they have achieved to date.  Rob spent much of the day with Tom, Rob and the SmartStart team observing our kids health and fitness checks and the HELP, after school program for high risk children.

SmartStart for Kids – HELP

Continues and all children at Urambi, St Benedict’s and St Anthony’s Primary Schools have had their health and fitness checks and the HELP program is in full swing for those high risk kids.  If you child was screened and they received an invitation to HELP, you can read more about it on the Kids section of this site, but it is a fun, rewarding and educational program that the kids love being part of.

Next SSFK schools are Giralang and Chisholm PS, due to start towards the end of May.

The study, which used height and weights of 22,000 people collected through the 2007-08 National Health Survey, calculated BMI, and a combined total of 62% of adult men and women, tipped the scales with a BMI of 25 or more.

This is a record!

Despite all the hype on TV, money spent and work done by Governments to promote a healthy lifestyle, we as a nation continue to get bigger and less healthy.

Don’t be one of these unfortunate statistics, take charge, contact us to show you how you can improve you life.

The SmartStart for Kids program will work with specially selected schools that have the greatest need for these types of program, and we look forward to working with the ACT Education and Health Departments in this exciting opportunity.

HELP and SmartStart has been shown to significnatly increase children’s enjoyment, confidence, understanding and physical abilities, especially with those children most at risk of becoming overweight or obese adults.

Tom has a Bachelor of Coaching Science from University of Canberra and also Certificate III and IV in Fitness.

Already he has become an integral part of our small and dynamic team, and is working closely with the schools.

If you or your school, club or organisation are interested in finding out more about SmartStart for Kids, or want to make a booking Tom can be contacted on 02 6260 5750 or email tom.a@smartstart.com.au

Narabundah Primary School HELP
Recently we finished the HELP Project, funded by the Rotary Club of Hall, and the Farmers Markets. The program saw all children at the school participate in before and after Health and Fitness Checks, and an intensive seven week program of active games and health educational activites.

We saw some amazing results, with over 60% improving both cardio fintess and standing long jump.

Also 43% of the students reduced body fat (BIA), with an average reduction of 5% over just the 7 weeks! One 12 year old boy reduced his body fat by a massive 15%.

Congratulations to all invovled, and again thanks very much to teh Rotary Club of Hall for theior generaous support of the program.

Alex is a qualified PDHPE teacher having completed her Human Movement and Health Education degree with Honours from Sydney University.� She also has a Level III Fitness Certificate; is a Sports Medicine Australia Sports Trainer and is looking to complete har Primary Teaching degree this year.

If you are interested in having SmartStart visit your school, please contact Alex at alex.e@smartstart.com.au or 02 6260 5750.