Run4it - “building our children’s future, run by run”
North Shore residents Debra McNee & Debbie Crowe have formed Run4it (formerly known as Running Club).
Its success in 2010 has been due to its unique programme based on children’s developmental stages.
Run4it offers specialised running clinics on the North Shore for children regardless of ability. The 8-week programme includes agility, strength, coordination and fitness training for any sport or event as well as learning about basic physiology and healthy living. However the main emphasis is having fun. Programmes are held at several schools including Kristin School, Milford School, Greenhithe School, Mairangi Bay School, Bayswater School and Stanley Bay School. After school programmes include Milford Reserve.
The clubs motto “better than before” is the brilliant idea of the “two Debs” who have seen Run4it grow from 26 children to nearly 250.
Debra McNee and Debbie Crowe, have extensive backgrounds in Paediatrics and Psychotherapy with many years of experience in health and sports. Both are keen runners and active participants in marathon and half marathon events. Run4it was founded due to concern about the lack of fitness in NZ children. Statistics show that 1 in 5 children are overweight and 1 in 12 are obese. Much of this can be attributed to a sedentary lifestyle because of screen time. In 2009, Deb and Deb set up a Running Club at Milford School. It involved training 66 children who each clocked up a running distance of 40kms to train towards a children’s running event. Parents who had never run before helped and reported both they and their children had an increase in fitness, stamina and emotional wellbeing.
For this initiative they were nominated for the 2009 Harbour Sport Community Excellence Award.
In term 1, 2010, 26 children participated in one school lunchtime programme. This has increased 10 fold to over 230 children attending each week at 12 programmes in the North Shore and Central Auckland.
Run4it works closely with proven sport and health professionals to ensure a premium fitness and lifestyle programme for children. This enables children to reach their potential in physical, emotional and social development. By implementing unique fitness programmes for children throughout Auckland, Run4it strives to build our future generation, run by run.
For further information visit
www.runningclub.co.nz
Shore Sport: Takapuna Cricket Club
