AFL Premiership star Jake Stringer, Melbourne Stars and Western Bulldogs all-rounder Emma Kearney, Diamonds and Collingwood netballer Madi Robinson, sports nutritionist Professor Jo Salmon and students from Lighthouse Christian College were at Gosch’s Paddock today to help launch this year’s Premier’s Active April campaign.
Every Victorian – no matter their age or ability – is being urged to follow in the footsteps of local sporting heroes like these and improve their fitness and health for this year’s Premier’s Active April challenge.
Getting involved in Active April can be as simple as taking a regular walk, riding to school or work, exercising during your lunch break, getting out in the garden or joining a local sports club or leisure centre.
The students from Lighthouse Christian College show you don’t have to be an elite athlete like Stringer, Kearney or Robinson – everyone of all ages and abilities can sign up and make the change.
Simple exercises that don't need props like sit ups and star jumps go a long way. By taking the first step, you can work your way up to an exercise or a sport that you love.
Research shows that up to 81 per cent of children don’t exercise enough and as many as 57 per cent of adults are at risk of chronic health problems due to their lack of physical activity. That costs us about $13.8 billion a year.
Turning that around, and improving physical and mental health is relatively easy with just 30 minutes a day of physical activity.
People can sign up to Active April as an individual or you can get your friends, family or work colleagues together to form a team. Incentives are available to help you achieve your goal and there’s also some great prizes on offer.
Last year more than 104,000 people of all fitness levels made a pledge to do 30 minutes of physical activity each day in April. In 2016, nearly 11,000 teams joined and motivated each other to stay active.
In 2017, there is a new mobile app that gives participants the chance to log their physical activity, time spent exercising, and allows groups to track and compare their progress.
To register visit www.activeapril.vic.gov.au or join us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Registrations are open until April 30.