Suffolk families get active this December for the Ipswich Santa Run

Children and their families who have taken part in one of our free weight management programmes will be putting their new fitness levels to the test as they take part in a charity fun run later this week.

Members of our ‘Lose Weight with Live Well Suffolk for Children’ programme will be taking part in the annual 3K Ipswich Santa Run in aid of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) on 7^th December in the town centre.

The children who will be taking part are aged between five years and 15 years old and will be running with their family members to represent Live Well Suffolk. Each of them have been working hard in activity sessions to build up their fitness to run the 3K for charity, which they will do dressed as Father Christmas.

Our Lose Weight with Live Well Suffolk programme is free, and it for those children whose weight is over the healthy BMI range for their age. Families work with the team through 1:2:1 clinics or interactive group sessions. The programme provides sessions for children, young people and their families around eating habits, physical activity and changing and improving behaviours and routines at home.

Ali Clements from Live Well Suffolk said: “This is a huge achievement for the young people and their families who signed up to our programme to lose weight and get fitter. They have worked really hard through the year to improve their fitness by doing more physical activity and learning about healthy eating and they wanted to celebrate their achievements through this festive fitness event.”

She added: “Walking, jogging and running are great ways to keep in shape and the Santa Run is a fantastic and healthy start to the Christmas celebrations for the whole family.”

Patsy Johnson-Cisse, EACH Suffolk Fundraiser, added: “It’s fantastic that the children and families from Live Well Suffolk have signed up for the Ipswich Santa Run to help local life-threatened children.”

Throughout the programme both the young people and their families receive healthy eating advice from our trained advisors and are encouraged to get involved in fun activities and exercise based games whilst making friends along the way.

If you are worried about your child’s weight then contact us on 01473 229292 or visit their website, www.livewellsuffolk.org.uk for more information - we have some new child weight management groups starting in the New Year.

We are the free healthy lifestyles service for Suffolk, providing information and practical steps to help local people who want to adopt a healthier lifestyle. We run weight management programmes for both children and adults, in addition to free physical activity courses and smoking cessation programmes.