OLYMPIC long jumper Chris Tomlinson cheered on 1,400 young runners at a sporting event designed to encourage children to turn off tv screens and tune into exercise.

Primary school pupils took part in the INEOS ‘GO Run For Fun’ day at Preston Park, Stockton, where they were also supported by the New Marske Harriers and mascot, Dart.

Mr Tomlinson, who competed at the 2008 Olympic Games, spurred on the children with a mass warm up to music before sounding a horn to start the races.

The campaign is the brainchild of Jim Ratcliffe, owner of INEOS, one of the UK’s largest manufacturing companies which has donated £1.5m donation to the Go Run For Fun charitable foundation. A total of four activities are taking place across the North-East in April involving more than 2,500 children.

The latest information from Public Health England shows that 33.5 per cent of children in England aged 10 to 11 are now overweight or obese, a figure which rises to 35 per cent in Stockton.

Mr Tomlinson, said: “Go Run For Fun is a fantastic initiative which has helped so many children across the UK and beyond, get outdoors, running for fun.


“It has been great to see just how much the children here in Stockton have enjoyed taking part, and you never know, we might see a star athlete of the future here.”

Malcolm Dewell, of Stockton Schools Sports Partnership, added: “This is a brilliant way to introduce youngsters to the fun of running, many of whom will never have seen an event like this before."