YMCA wins £9,000 grant for primary school healthy heart campaign (From Watford Observer)

YMCA wins £9,000 grant for primary school healthy heart campaign

1:00pm Tuesday 7th February 2012 in News

The Watford and District YMCA has been awarded a Healthy Heart Grant of more than £9,000 from national heart charity, Heart Research UK, to fund a new heart health project aimed at primary school children.

Despite improvements over the past 10 years the rate of premature deaths from heart disease in Watford is still higher than the national average and a study by Sport England has found that inactivity among children is higher in Watford than nationally.

Pupils in Year five and six from 21 primary schools in Watford will get their hearts beating faster through a six week programme of fun fitness sessions combined with curriculum linked lessons about how their heart works and how to look after it.

Throughout the "Energy" project children will take part in a series of traditional and non-traditional sports and play games based around the circulatory system to inspire them to lead heart-healthy lifestyles.

Fabrizio Luca Ferrari, Sport Health and Fitness Coordinator at Watford and District YMCA, said: "We are thrilled to have been awarded a Healthy Heart grant from Heart Research UK.

"Our project will help to educate children about the importance of a healthy lifestyle and how this is central to a healthy heart. We hope the messages they will learn from the project will stay with them and influence the choices they make as young adults."

Barbara Harpham, National Director at Heart Research UK, said: "As the London Olympics is coming up this is a great time for young people to be inspired and become fit and active for the benefit of their hearts.

"We are delighted to award Watford and District YMCA a Healthy Heart Grant for their project which will really help to tackle the root of the problem that Watford faces and we wish them all the best with their fun and interactive project."