CHILDREN, parents and teachers across York have been running to help keep hearts healthy thanks to an initiative created by York City Knights, and funded by a Heart Research UK and Subway ‘Healthy Heart’ grant.

For the past 12 months, Knights players, mascot Norris, and members of the club’s community team, have been going into schools to promote healthy lifestyles and how they help to prevent heart disease and improve quality of life.

They have held classroom workshops and PE sessions, culminating in a fun run.

The programme has proven a big hit with children and teachers alike, not least Hob Moor Oaks Federation, which comprises a primary school and special school.

Six classes, and the pupils’ parents, took part in an assembly, led by Knights community manager Jack Stearman, recapping what they had learned over the ‘Healthy Hearts’ week. This was followed by a sponsored fun run which saw teachers, children and parents of both schools run laps of the school grounds, helping to raise money for Heart Research UK and for Hob Moor School sports equipment.

Katharine Greathead, lifestyle officer for Heart Research UK, said: “It’s great to see so many pupils taking the ‘Healthy Heart’ message on board thanks to York City Knights’ inspiring project. It was fantastic to see so many young children and their parents having fun while doing some heart-healthy exercise.”

Anyone wanting details of programmes the Knights Foundation offers can phone Stearman on 01904 767404.