Local business keeps Life Education wheels moving on North Coast
Friday, 30 Aug 2019
Healthy Harold the giraffe is well known among children from the north coast region as a regular feature in local schools, teaching students about the benefits of healthy lifestyles.
Each year around 4,400 students from 25 schools in the Tweed/Byron and Northern Rivers area receive a visit from Healthy Harold and the Life Ed van, largely thanks to the support of local unsung heroes.
For 15 years, Southern Cross Credit Union (SCCU) has helped keep Life Ed’s wheels moving on the North Coast by donating approximately $100,000 to support local volunteers and educators to reach more children in the area.
Life Ed NSW Acting CEO Jim Chaplin said assistance from local business, government and volunteers was vital to ensure that more children in the area could continue to benefit from Life Ed’s health and safety lessons.
“Children today face big challenges. One in four Australian children is overweight or obese; one in five young people experience bullying or cyberbullying; and one in eight deaths of young Australians is linked to alcohol. Families need support to help tackle these challenges and empower their children to make safe and healthy choices,” Mr Chaplin said.
Thanks to the continued generosity of Southern Cross Credit Union and our dedicated local volunteers, over the past four years an extra 3,500 students have benefited from our lessons, which teach children about healthy eating, physical activity, cyber safety, respectful relationships, and drug and alcohol prevention.
SCCU’s Community Sponsorship Specialist, Cassie Nicole said guiding young people to make safer and healthier life choices was something she felt passionate about.
“Today’s children are tomorrow’s business leaders. It is imperative that they are given the best start in life to help shape our future community. We are delighted to continue to assist in encouraging the right healthy choices for local children by supporting the Life Ed program,” Ms Nicole said.
