- The Daily Mile, supported by INEOS, is today celebrating its 10th Birthday with a huge global event, bringing together 320,000 children in 1,340 schools in 21 countries across the globe to participate in The Daily Mile together.
- Included 122,000 children in England taking part across 490 schools.
- At a school in London, children were joined by former Tottenham Hotspur Club Captain Ledley King who helped with celebrations.
- While at the same time, in Dundee, over 800 children participated in The Daily Mile together.
- The Daily Mile is a transformative initiative where children run, jog, wheel or walk for fifteen minutes every day, improving the health, happiness and wellbeing of millions of children.
- Elaine Wyllie, Founder of The Daily Mile, says: “We want to get as many children around the world doing The Daily Mile as possible, so the fact that we’ve been able to do this mass global event with thousands of schools to celebrate our 10th Birthday is a real testament to the enthusiasm behind the initiative and the positive benefits that The Daily Mile has on children’s physical, mental and social health."
The Daily Mile, supported by INEOS, today celebrated its 10th Birthday with a huge global event that was designed to get as many children and primary schools as possible around the world moving on the same day.
335,000 children around the world took part in a virtual event - across 1,340 schools in 21 countries from England to New Zealand. Marking the world’s largest Daily Mile event.
In London, children at Rowland Hill Nursery School and Children’s Centre were joined by former Tottenham Hotspur Club Captain Ledley King, supported by UK Active and Sport England, who helped with celebrations.
Elsewhere, in Dundee, over 800 children participated in The Daily Mile in the grounds of a transformed Baxter Park that included a stage, music and guest speakers. The children came from local primary and SEN schools and enjoyed their Daily Mile in front of The Daily Mile founder Elaine Wyllie MBE and other Daily Mile ambassadors and sports personalities including Scotland and GB Team middle distance runner Kane Elliott.
The Daily Mile, supported by INEOS, is a transformative initiative where children run, jog wheel or walk for fifteen minutes every day in school, in which time, most people will average a mile or more. The initiative has enjoyed phenomenal success since it was started by then Headteacher Elaine Wyllie just ten years ago at a single primary school in Stirling, Scotland.
Today over 3 million children across 14,000 schools in 87 countries globally are now running The Daily Mile. In England, 7,348 schools and 1,929,485 are signed up to The Daily Mile.
The initiative believes there is more to be done if we are to provide the opportunity of good health and well-being to all children, wherever they are in the world and its aim for the next ten years is to significantly increase the number of children that are able to enjoy The Daily Mile.
Elaine Wyllie MBE, Founder of The Daily Mile says, “We are so excited to celebrate 10 amazing years of The Daily Mile - what an incredible journey it has been so far, starting from just a simple idea at my school in Scotland to now an essential part of the day in thousands of schools around the world.
“Multiple scientific studies continue to show The Daily Mile improves children’s physical, mental and social health as well as their engagement at school - and today’s event has been a fantastic way to celebrate all we have achieved, thanks to the incredible children, teachers, schools and partners we have worked with other the years who champion our ideals and support our ambition to see every child enjoy the benefits of The Daily Mile.”
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Founder & CEO of INEOS, comments: “INEOS has supported the Daily Mile for years because it’s a free, simple and effective way to improve children’s physical and mental wellbeing. It has been a natural fit for us to work with an initiative that is so passionate about helping more children enjoy exercise more often, and we look forward to its success as it continues to transform more lives around the world.”
Will Quince MP, Minister for Children and Families, adds: “Being active from an early age is so important, both for children’s physical health and their mental wellbeing. For ten years, The Daily Mile has encouraged children, no matter their age, ability or personal circumstances, to enjoy sports and activity on a daily basis and I’m delighted to be participating in today’s celebration.
Maree Todd MSP, Minister for Public Health, said: “I am passionate about the many physical, mental and social benefits the Daily Mile brings and am delighted that this initiative, born in Scotland, is celebrating its 10th anniversary in Dundee.
“As school children from across the world come together to take part in the Daily Mile celebrations I look forward to seeing the impact of this simple and free initiative. I give my thanks to all the school teachers and those involved in providing their communities with the opportunity and support for children to be active each day.
“I am committed to Scotland becoming a Daily Mile Nation and myself really enjoy taking part. Over and above the health benefits it also gives me the opportunity to connect with nature, explore my local environment and meet new people along the way.
“I would encourage everyone across the world to join in and take part in the Daily Mile to experience these fantastic benefits.”
“Alongside The Daily Mile, we’re supporting schools through initiatives like the School Sport and Activity Action Plan, to ensure that every child has access to high-quality PE, sport and activity in the school day.”
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Media Contacts
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Katy Thompson katy.thompson@mediazoo.tv +44 (0)7872 927359
Notes to Editors
The Daily Mile was first developed by Elaine Wyllie MBE when she was Headteacher of St Ninian’s Primary School in Stirling, in February 2012. Since 2016, The Daily Mile Foundation has been supported by INEOS, which has enabled the free initiative to grow globally helping millions of kids to get active every day.
The initiative is simple – but can be transformational to children’s health and wellbeing. It involves classes heading outside to jog or run around the school grounds for 15-minutes every day, at whatever pace suits the child best. It gets children active with their friends and teachers and refreshed for further learning. The Daily Mile is free, fun and fits in the school day easily.
Though named “The Daily Mile” (as children tend to average running a mile in the 15-minutes), the distance isn’t compulsory, and the ethos of the scheme is of inclusivity, enjoyment, and self-improvement over time. The Daily Mile is intended to help all children, no matter their age, ability or personal circumstances, enjoy getting active every day – getting fitter and healthier now, but also developing healthy habits for a lifetime