Aggregate Industries and Leicester Tigers urge children to get on their bikes

5 Apr 2018

Aggregate Industries and Leicester Tigers are launching a campaign this month to encourage more school children to cycle.

Called ‘Get on you Bike’, the initiative aims to get school children in Leicestershire more active and spending more time cycling, with both organisations believing just 15 minutes cycling to and from school could make a real difference to a child’s fitness.

This comes as research shows only 19% of Leicestershire secondary school children are getting their recommended daily exercise, with NHS guidelines recommending children and young people should have at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day.

These facts concerned Aggregate Industries and Leicester Tigers, as research as part of their Concrete Rugby programme, which encourages health and wellbeing in young people, suggested.

Representatives from the Leicester Tigers and Aggregate Industries will visit schools across the county, to drive the programme forward.

Other topics covered include ‘sustainability’ and how cycling can help the environment, as well as ‘cycle safety’ and safety on the road.

François Pétry, CEO of Aggregate Industries, said he hoped promoting a healthy lifestyle would make it become a lifelong habit for children.

“Cycling is a fun and easy way to keep fit and get outdoors and it also means you’re doing your bit to help the environment and cut down car journeys,” he said.

“That’s why we’re encouraging young people to ‘get on your bike’ and make cycling a part of their weekly routines and summer holiday activities.”

Chris Rose, head of brand at Leicester Tigers, talked about the club’s role in the project, saying: “Having the Tigers players get involved is great way to engage with school children and recognise how cycling can benefit them physically and socially in all walks of life.”

Aggregate will also launch a social media campaign, encouraging pupils ask a friend to take pictures or videos of them with their bike (in a safe space) and tweeting @aggregateuk, with the hashtag #getonyourbike.

For more info on Concrete Rugby and Get on your Bike, visit: https://www.leicestertigers.com/community/aggregate-industries-concrete-rugby

Visit the Aggregate Industries website