Children across Stockport take part in the Big Leap

30 Jul 2021 10:00
Published by: Scott Callan

Children across Stockport have been practicing their Olympics skills, as they took part in ‘The Big Leap’ to celebrate the return of the Gigantic Leap Frog Trail which is back in the town centre this summer. Over 7000 children across the borough took part in July, with many raising funds for St Ann’s Hospice, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

Organised by the Stockport SHAPES Alliance, ‘The Big Leap’ saw primary school children take part in three activities – the speed bounce, standing long jump and the vertical jump. Each school hosted a mini competition to find out which child in each class could jump the fastest, furthest and highest, with certificates awarded to the winners and an overall certificate for the child with the highest combined score – the biggest leap!

To make the event bespoke, non-standard definitions of length and height were used, with frogs instead used as markers to indicate distance.

As well as linking to the Gigantic Frog Trail, which sees 21 frogs hopping to attention in Stockport town centre this summer, ‘The Big Leap’ also helped to raise awareness and money for local charity St Ann’s Hospice, in what has been a tough year for fundraising due to the pandemic. Children could dress up for the occasion, take part in non-uniform days or pay £1 to enter ‘The Big Leap’, with all proceeds going direct to the charity.

Paul McDowell, Headteacher at Prospect Vale Primary School, said: “The Big Leap was a brilliant event that the whole school enjoyed. The children all loved acting like frogs seeing how far, high and how many times they could leap. It was a really fun way to encourage physical activity and get the children excited for the Gigantic Leap Frog Art trail.”

Councillor Jude Wells, Cabinet Member for Adult Care and Health at Stockport Council, said: “Getting children engaged in sport is so important for their physical and mental wellbeing. The Big Leap was a fantastic way to champion physical exercise with some friendly competition, it is an Olympic year after all!”

Councillor Colin Foster, Cabinet Member for Children, Family Services and Education at Stockport Council, added: “This was a really fun way of getting children engaged with what’s going on in the borough, as well as raising some important funds for a great charity. Congratulations to all of the winners and pupils in schools across Stockport, and thanks to all of the schools for participating in this wonderful event.”

Check out the Gigantic Leap Frog Art trail by downloading the map here. This year, the town centre frogs will be joined by 17 of their amphibian friends leaping onto lily pads across the whole of the borough. If you spot one don’t forget to use the #stockportfrogs in any social media pictures!

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