Ironman launches school’s fitness trail

Cameron Brown challenging Balmoral students Kane Smith and Mea Grgec.

NZ Ironman champion Cameron Brown launched Youthtown’s national Fitness Trail initiative at Balmoral School in Auckland on March 24th, 2011.

The fitness trail has been specifically designed to suit the fitness requirements of NZ primary and intermediate school children in conjunction with fitness guru and personal trainer, Graeme Ahern.

The trail comprises eight stationary workout stations including: a tyre run, chin up bars, push up bars, balance beam, step up, hanging bars, jump beam and parallel bars.

Ten-time NZ Ironman winner Brown was delighted to get behind Youthtown, challenging the students of Balmoral School to a time-trial race through the new equipment.

“It’s fantastic to finally have this innovative equipment available in our communities, to help Kiwi kids engage in physical activity in fun and exciting new ways,” says Brown.

Youthtown CEO, Keith Thorpe, says: “We saw an opportunity through the fitness trail initiative to make a substantial long-term investment that assists in promoting a healthy lifestyle in our communities.”

Balmoral School Principal, Malcolm Milner, adds: “Wellbeing and physical activity are increasingly important objectives for us. The Youthtown Fitness Trail provides a fun and unique way for us to help meet these by encouraging and enabling our students to be more active.”

Youthtown plans to roll out an additional eight fitness trails at schools in Auckland, Taupo, Upper Hutt, Greymouth, Oamaru and Christchurch over the coming months. 

It is a non-profit organisation designed to provide young people with opportunities for great physical, social and creative experiences.

Founded in 1932, the organisation currently has centres in Auckland, Upper Hutt, Greymouth, Oamaru and Taupo.

Youthtown also has a fundraising arm called the Youthtown Trust. Funds for the trust are raised through gaming machines, with the takings being used to directly benefit youth within the area in which they are raised.