A GLOBAL campaign to get children running is picking up pace in Darlington.

Olympic long jumper and Middlesbrough-born Chris Tomlinson joined around 750 schoolchildren to launch the GO Run For Fun initiative on the first date of its nationwide tour.

Pupils from 16 primary schools across the town met at Eastbourne Sports Complex for the one-mile fun run which aims to combat childhood obesity and encourage an active lifestyle from a young age.

Darlington Borough Council’s Healthy Darlington initiative supported the run, as well as sports leaders from St Aidan’s CE Academy.

School games organiser for the Darlington School Sport Sponsorship, hosted by the Darlington Move More team, Alison Raw, said: “We are delighted to work with GO Run For Fun once again.

“We have been amazed by the response from around the world to the campaign and have a great memory of our previous run here.”

The charity’s message has been heard by more than 106,000 children in 189 countries, which includes runs previously held in Darlington, Newton Aycliffe and Stockton.

Commonwealth Games finalist in the 2014 European Championships and sixth-placed long jumper at the London 2012 Olympics, Mr Tomlinson, said: “GO Run For Fun is an easy way to inspire children to get out of the house and have fun with their friends, whilst doing something healthy.

“It’s also a great way to kick start the imaginations of the next generation who may be thinking about becoming Olympians one day.”

Darlington’s meet-up marked the first of several fun runs planned for the rest of Britain after childhood obesity ranked as a top public health concern, particularly in England.

A major contributor to the charitable run and owner of INEOS manufacturers, Jim Ratcliffe, said: “I’m passionate about getting as many children running early in their lives.

“The idea is simple – to get children out of the house having fun. It is not rocket science.

“Running is the basis of so many great sports. If our children can catch the running bug early, they’re more likely to stick to it and this can only lead to them having more active and healthier lifestyles in the future.”

For 2016, the campaign now includes educational elements to teach schoolchildren about nutrition and exercise, delivered by the fun run’s mascot, Dart.

For more information on the campaign, or to find out how to register a child or school for future events, visit gorunforfun.com