BENDIGO Spirit captain Kristi Harrower shot some hoops with students at Eaglehawk North Primary School yesterday.
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As part of the Premier’s Active Families Challenge the four-time Olympic medallist was joined by YMCA chief executive Michael Bailey to launch the annual challenge.
The challenge encourages families and young people across Victoria to participate in 30 minutes of physical activity for 30 days over a six-week period.
More than 700 Bendigo residents have already registered for the challenge.
Harrower said it was important for people young and old to stay fit and active and the premier’s challenge was the perfect way to start.
“I have been lucky enough to be active my whole life but there is a lot of people who struggle to have the motivation to do it, so something like this I think is very important,” she said.
“If you just think of 30 minutes in 30 days then it will get you into a routine and if you do it with somebody then it makes it so much easier.”
Harrower said getting into a routine was important for keeping a healthy mindset.
“It is about training yourself to eat healthy,” she said. “I know when I get out of a routine that I struggle to get back into it,” she said.
“I am pretty lucky because my routine is to train everyday but now I do it with people because I can’t do it by myself.” As part of the challenge the YMCA is offering every team that registers 20 free passes to the Peter Krenz Leisure Centre.
Mr Bailey said the challenge encouraged a gradual and long-term change in families.
“With more than 25 per cent of children aged between 5 and 17 years either overweight or obese we need to make a positive change as a community,” he said.
“Establishing the importance of physical activity during childhood can help ensure lifelong participation with resulting health, social, economic and environmental benefits.”
Entries for the challenge close on March 16.
To register visit www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/challenge