Fitness and drama combine to boost children’s charity

Pupils in schools across the province are being invited to get involved with ‘Kids Helping Kids’, which will raise funds for the Northern Ireland Children to Lapland and Days to Remember Trust.

The Trust aims to fulfil the dreams of terminally ill, long term ill and deserving children by giving them and their families wonderful experiences and memories that they will never forget.

Leading the scheme is PreCore Active, a schools-based fitness and nutrition programme which features sponsored fun, lively and interactive workshops which support a healthy balance between physical fitness, positive mental health and overall well-being, all the while raising much needed funds for a worthwhile cause.

Qualified fitness and drama leaders use a range of games, songs and fun activities to get the kids moving.

Maeve McLoughlin of PreCore Active explained: “I wanted to combine my two passions, drama and fitness, and develop a concept with a real positive outcome for those taking part that could make a real difference to this charity which has stolen my heart.

“The ‘Kids Helping Kids’ scheme doesn’t focus on winners but on champions; we encourage confidence throughout and ask them to work as a group, all playing, and equally congratulated on effort.

“On completion of the event the children will not only have learnt a lot, but they will also hopefully have had a lot of fun and most importantly helped to raise much needed funds for some children who aren’t as lucky as them – we hope this will teach them empathy too and encourage them to think of others.”

The Northern Ireland Children to Lapland and Days to Remember Trust needs to raise in excess of £200k per annum to fund its activities.

Last year, the charity broadened their offering by introducing an annual trip to Euro Disney in June to complement their festive Lapland visit.

Expressing his delight with the new partnership was Jack Rogers, director of the charity. “The Kids Helping Kids concept is a wonderful project which I am delighted to be involved with,” he said.

“Not only is it helping to raise much needed funds and awareness for the charity, for which we are extremely thankful, but it is also encouraging children and young people to led healthy active lives and to look after both their physical health and general wellbeing. This is an issue which is so prevalent in today’s society and I expect that those taking part in the initiative will benefit along with those who travel with us to Disney or Lapland.”

Schools are urged to take part in this exciting initiative and should contact Maeve on 08853222003 or Fiona on 07710 731517 to find out more.

For further information on how you can help please visit www.niclt.org or keep up to date with us on facebook.com/kidshelpingkids