Press release: 335,000 children worldwide helped The Daily MileTM to celebrate its 10th Birthday with a global celebration, today.
The Daily Mile, supported by INEOS, is today celebrating its 10th Birthday with a huge global event, bringing together 320,000 children in 1,340 schools in 21 countries across the globe to participate in The Daily Mile together.
- Included 122,000 children in England taking part across 490 schools.
- At a school in London, children were joined by former Tottenham Hotspur Club Captain Ledley King who helped with celebrations.
- While at the same time, in Dundee, over 800 children participated in The Daily Mile together.
- The Daily Mile is a transformative initiative where children run, jog, wheel or walk for fifteen minutes every day, improving the health, happiness and wellbeing of millions of children.
- Elaine Wyllie, Founder of The Daily Mile, says: “We want to get as many children around the world doing The Daily Mile as possible, so the fact that we’ve been able to do this mass global event with thousands of schools to celebrate our 10th Birthday is a real testament to the enthusiasm behind the initiative and the positive benefits that The Daily Mile has on children’s physical, mental and social health.”
The Daily Mile, supported by INEOS, today celebrated its 10th Birthday with a huge global event that was designed to get as many children and primary schools as possible around the world moving on the same day.
335,000 children around the world took part in a virtual event – across 1,340 schools in 21 countries from England to New Zealand. Marking the world’s largest Daily Mile event.
In London, children at Rowland Hill Nursery School and Children’s Centre were joined by former Tottenham Hotspur Club Captain Ledley King, supported by UK Active and Sport England, who helped with celebrations.
Elsewhere, in Dundee, over 800 children participated in The Daily Mile in the grounds of a transformed Baxter Park that included a stage, music and guest speakers. The children came from local primary and SEN schools and enjoyed their Daily Mile in front of The Daily Mile founder Elaine Wyllie MBE and other Daily Mile ambassadors and sports personalities including Scotland and GB Team middle distance runner Kane Elliott.
The Daily Mile, supported by INEOS, is a transformative initiative where children run, jog wheel or walk for fifteen minutes every day in school, in which time, most people will average a mile or more. The initiative has enjoyed phenomenal success since it was started by then Headteacher Elaine Wyllie just ten years ago at a single primary school in Stirling, Scotland.
Today over 3 million children across 14,000 schools in 87 countries globally are now running The Daily Mile. In England, 7,348 schools and 1,929,485 are signed up to The Daily Mile.
The initiative believes there is more to be done if we are to provide the opportunity of good health and well-being to all children, wherever they are in the world and its aim for the next ten years is to significantly increase the number of children that are able to enjoy The Daily Mile.
Elaine Wyllie MBE, Founder of The Daily Mile says, “We are so excited to celebrate 10 amazing years of The Daily Mile – what an incredible journey it has been so far, starting from just a simple idea at my school in Scotland to now an essential part of the day in thousands of schools around the world.
“Multiple scientific studies continue to show The Daily Mile improves children’s physical, mental and social health as well as their engagement at school – and today’s event has been a fantastic way to celebrate all we have achieved, thanks to the incredible children, teachers, schools and partners we have worked with other the years who champion our ideals and support our ambition to see every child enjoy the benefits of The Daily Mile.”
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Founder & CEO of INEOS, comments: “INEOS has supported the Daily Mile for years because it’s a free, simple and effective way to improve children’s physical and mental wellbeing. It has been a natural fit for us to work with an initiative that is so passionate about helping more children enjoy exercise more often, and we look forward to its success as it continues to transform more lives around the world.”
Will Quince MP, Minister for Children and Families, adds: “Being active from an early age is so important, both for children’s physical health and their mental wellbeing. For ten years, The Daily Mile has encouraged children, no matter their age, ability or personal circumstances, to enjoy sports and activity on a daily basis and I’m delighted to be participating in today’s celebration.
“Alongside The Daily Mile, we’re supporting schools through initiatives like the School Sport and Activity Action Plan, to ensure that every child has access to high-quality PE, sport and activity in the school day.”
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Media Contacts
Eve Debbage eve.debbage@mediazoo.tv 07713336937
Katy Thompson katy.thompson@mediazoo.tv 07872 927359
