Youngsters who have been trailblazing the West Cheshire Way vanguard’s keep-fit initiative since March 2016 were given the opportunity to suggest their favourite names as part of a naming competition.
Fittingly, Smile for a Mile is an amalgamation of suggestions from not one, but two of the pilot schools – Horn’s Mill Primary School in Helsby and Upton Heath CE Primary School in Chester.
Initially, six schools signed up for the innovative scheme, which is designed to encourage local primary school pupils to be more active and learn healthy habits for life.
Delivered via a partnership of NHS West Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group, Cheshire West and Chester Council and Active Cheshire, a further 11 primary schools have since signed up.
This means 17 schools, 2,444 pupils and 71 teachers are now signed up to Smile for a Mile!
Uniquely, schools participating in the initiative – which was featured on BBC’s The One Show in March 2016 – are tasked with both promoting the scheme to neighbouring schools and providing peer support.
Alison Lee, the Chief Executive of NHS West Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “Smile for a Mile is a perfect name for a fantastic initiative. Many thanks to all the children who took part in the competition – there were some brilliant suggestions. The beauty of Smile for a Mile is its simplicity. It’s inclusive of all children, no extra kit is required and evidence suggests that a 15-minute break from the classroom to Smile for a Mile can enhance pupils’ school work as well as their health and fitness.”