THE Department of Health is holding its fifth Celebration of Skipping event on Friday.
The annual celebration will see pupils from a number of Island primary schools take up the challenge of devising their own creative skipping routine to a short piece of music.
In the run up to the event schools have been offered the support to set up skipping clubs throughout the year and have focussed on achieving a number of challenges as part of the Manx Skipping Challenge which has been supported by Britannia International.
Prizes will be awarded for each category in the Manx Skipping Challenge and the Isle of Man Anti Cancer shield will be presented to the school wit h the best skipping achievements overall.
Last year the shield was awarded to Fairfield School who currently hold the Manx records for many of the skipping challenges.
Two Island schools are also unbeaten across the UK for two of the six challenge records. Rushen and Sulby schools hold the records for Keep the Pot Boiling (continuous figure of eight team skipping) and face to face partner skipping.
The Public Health Directorate supports skipping in schools as a way of encouraging pupils to get more active in a fun and non-competitive environment.
Rope skipping can increase levels of fitness, improve muscle strength, coordination and balance and can build up bone strength.
Health Minister David Anderson MHK said: "I'm delighted that this event continues to grow enjoying huge support from schools and pupils across our Island. Physical activity, even in small amounts, can improve our quality of life and our health. Prevention is always better than cure."
All of the schools that entered the skipping challenge event also received a special demonstration pack of ropes from Britannia International to enable them to use at the Celebration of Skipping event and in the future.
Mark Beresford, managing director of Britannia International said: "Health and the well-being of children is something we are always keen to support as part of our community plan.
"We have always taken our corporate social responsibility seriously at Britannia International and initiatives like the Manx Skipping Challenge fit perfectly with our commitment to inspire young people in the community."
Jump Rope UK, a professional skipping team which has appeared on television shows including Blue Peter and So You Think You Can Dance, will perform at the skipping event. The team will also be visiting a number of schools this week and will perform in the Strand Shopping Centre in Douglas tomorrow.
The Celebration of Skipping event will be held on Friday, June 17 at the National Sports Centre in Douglas from 10am to 12pm. General public are welcome to attend.
