St Mary’s Star of the Sea students will take part in the Physical Activity Foundation’s Active August program. 

As part of the challenge they will seek sponsorship, with 75 per cent of the funds raised going back into their school. 

Physical Activity Foundation CEO Lucille Bailie, and Shallow Crossing resident, said the aim was to educate children about the importance of being active.

“The challenge is one of our health promotion strategies to increase awareness of the requirement for kids to be active every single day,” she said. 

“It is also a really easy fundraising program that allows kids to seek sponsorship for being active.”

The challenge is available for school’s Australia wide to enter. So far, St Mary’s is the only school in the region to register, but Ulladulla and Milton schools are being challenged to join.

Mrs Bailie said too many children were overweight or obese in Australia. 

“One in four kids are currently underweight,” she said. 

“We know kids aren’t getting enough physical activity everyday.

“Just 19 per cent of primary school aged kids are achieving the 60 minutes a day requirement.”

Teachers and parents are also encouraged to join their children in the challenge. 

Mrs Bailie was excited about the challenge and said it was important for kids to stay active and eat well. 

“We focus on kids because we know they are not achieving enough daily physical activity,” she said. 

“We know one of the outcomes of that is obesity and there is no upside to that. 

“The challenge seeks to raise awareness of how importantly it is to be active.”