Antonio backs health drive
Owls star Michael Antonio saw how youngsters are putting their hearts into a healthy lifestyle with a new scheme across Sheffield schools.
Winger Antonio met pupils from Carfield Primary School as part of the new ‘Love Hearts’ initiative run by the Sheffield Wednesday Community Programme.
He, and the rest of the first team, will be attending sessions to help children in some of the most deprived areas of the city to learn about healthy heart lifestyles through fun games and physical exercise.
“Getting kids fit and getting them involved in sports is very important and that’s why this is such a great project,” Michail explained following the visit.
“Health is the way forward in life because being healthy provides you with opportunities that you wouldn’t be presented with if you lived an unhealthy lifestyle and this is something we need to make kids aware of.”
The SWFC scheme comes thanks to a £5,200 grant from Yorkshire-based charity Heart Research UK and sandwich franchise SUBWAY® stores.
Over 360 children will take part in the 11-week programme which will teach children how to look after their hearts through heart-themed games, cooking, dancing and fitness activities. As well as quizzes at the start and end of the programme to see how much the children have learnt.
Parent and teacher feedback forms will also help, looking at the lifestyle changes made by the pupils as well as spreading the healthy heart message further into the community.
SWFC Funding Officer Andrea Hudson, said: “We aim to engage pupils with lifestyle messages they will never forget and with the help of the players from Sheffield Wednesday I’m sure it will be a great success.”
“I would once again like to thank Heart Research UK for this wonderful opportunity.”
Barbara Harpham, National Director at Heart Research UK, added: “Everyone in the city knows Sheffield Wednesday and it’s great to see local role models getting involved in helping to spread the Healthy Heart message.
“Good habits learnt by children could last them a lifetime, so that’s why it is important to educate them at an early age about getting more exercise, eating a healthy diet and not smoking.”