OLYMPIC HERO DAME KELLY HOLMES ENCOURAGES HEALTHY LIFESTYLE AND LAUNCHES BUSY BEES GOLDEN MILE

We are excited to announce the launch of a new activity that is designed to not only be fun for children, but also encourage fitness and active play with their peers!

The Golden Mile challenge brings children an interactive fitness challenge that they can really get involved in, as every child attending 131 Busy Bees nurseries across the UK will be challenged to complete 2, 4, 6 and eventually 8 miles of physical activity over the next year. In the lead up to the London 2012 Olympics, the youngsters will take part in this exciting and fun initiative, while raising funds for The Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust.

The Busy Bees Golden Mile was launched at Busy Bees nurseries across the country on the 17th October, with an opening event held at Busy Bees in Sudbury Hill, featuring a very special Olympian guest, Dame Kelly Holmes! Dame Kelly joined the children as they began their first laps towards completing their ‘Golden Mile’ in the Sudbury Hill nursery garden.

Busy Bees is the only independent provider of nursery care to be taking part in this unique physical activity initiative, which helps to meet the new UK physical activity guidelines launched by the Chief Medical Officer. Recent Government guidelines recommend that once a child can walk, they should be physically active and moving around for at least three hours a day.

As well as encouraging families to keep fit and healthy, the Golden Mile challenge also gives Busy Bees the opportunity to raise money for the Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust, a charity which helps less fortunate children realise their sporting dreams by providing them with a mentor and role model in the form of professional athletes. The challenge is to encourage children’s friends and family to sponsor them for every Golden Mile they complete, helping to raise lots of money across Busy Bees for the charity. Busy Bees will also be challenging each region to raise as much money as possible for a chance to win a guest appearance from a top athlete.

This is a challenge that the whole family can get involved in, as miles can be completed at home, as well as in nursery! Each participant will receive a ‘family progress card’ so Golden Miles can be recorded whilst at home.

To take part in the exclusive ‘Busy Bees Golden Mile’ challenge, families can simply register for a pack at their child’s Busy Bees nursery, and for £6 children will receive not only all the material they need to take part in the challenge, but also a special Busy Bees Golden Mile pack that includes fun activities, stickers, and a drinks bottle to help keep little ones hydrated. Children will also be rewarded and supported in their mission to complete the miles with special certificates and medals presented to them along the way. A minimum donation of £4 from registering will go towards the Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust.

The Golden Mile Chief Executive David Batch, said: "The Golden Mile are proud to provide Busy Bees with their very own physical activity initiative designed specifically with their needs in mind. We hope to get every nursery child nationwide physically active and achieving their Golden Miles. In addition to this, giving Busy Bees the chance to raise money for The Golden Mile's official charity partner, The Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust.

“We look forward to a long and successful partnership with Busy Bees in the future."

To celebrate London 2012 Busy Bees is introducing its Busy Bees torch, which will travel around the country, finishing at the London ExCel close to the new Olympic Stadium

Jemma Matthews, Nursery Manager said: “Busy Bees understand the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and we believe that we can shape future generations by introducing them at a very early age to fitness that is not only energetic, but fun.

“By introducing the Golden Mile into our nurseries we hope to bring the children an interactive fitness challenge they everyone can get involved in. This is an initiative that the whole family can embrace, and exercising together as a family can be one of the most rewarding ways to spend time with each other.”

Olympic Gold Medallist, Dame Kelly Holmes said: I’m thrilled that Busy Bees nurseries have decided to support my charity, the DKH Legacy Trust, with the Golden Mile. It’s fantastic that young children are being encouraged to take up an active and healthy lifestyle. The support from Busy Bees nurseries will really help us create life chances for more young children.”

Check out https://busybees.golden-mile.org/ for more information.