Makauri School video a winner in the shoe department

Children from Tanya Nielsen’s class at Makauri School with their new Asics shoes. Their video promoting healthy activity inside when it’s raining outside won a competition run as part of the Zespri Young and Healthy Virtual Adventure. The video featured a song the children wrote. Picture supplied

Makauri School students were jumping for joy after their winning video scored Asics shoes for a whole class of seven–eight-year-olds.

The students were among 20,000 children from around the country who took part in a five-week challenge. The Zespri Young and Healthy Virtual Adventure inspires youngsters to make healthy living choices.  As part of the programme the students submitted a two-minute video to enter into a competition to win new shoes from the sponsor Asics.

“The children wrote their own song and showed how they move inside the classroom when it’s raining outside,” said Tanya Nielsen, a teacher at Makauri School.

“We were fully immersed in the programme. I went a bit OTT (over the top!),” she said.

Young and Healthy Charitable Trust and Virtual Adventure founder Kim Harvey designed the voluntary programme with the goal of making it fun and interactive.  Pedometers, virtual globetrotting and encouraging pop up messages from sports stars along the way all made for a competitive edge. Keeping active, eating well and taking time out from devices to enjoy the great outdoors, family and friends were key factors in the programme’s success.

“There is flexibility in how you use the programme, fitting it into your daily routine. Even if you don’t win anything, it impacts in a good way for the rest of your life,” Miss Nielsen said.

Students were still reminding her even after the programme had finished, to make sure she has  six glasses of water during the day.

Founder Kim Harvey was so impressed with Makauri School’s effort, she decided to drive from Auckland to present the prize to the students.

“It made us feel very special,” said Miss Nielsen.  The students in turn gifted Miss Harvey with a copy of the Makauri School Cookbook.

• Schools are invited to apply for next year’s Zespri Young and Healthy Virtual Adventure through their website, youngandhealthy.org.nz