Winners announced for Belfast City Marathon Schools Initiative!

The Superhero Challenge invited schools across NI to take on the Daily Mile (15 minutes of exercise in any form) dressed as their favourite superhero. The impact of active participation in the Daily Mile can be transformational – improving not only children’s fitness, but also their concentration levels, mood, behaviour and general wellbeing.

Belfast City Marathon were blown away with the creativity and imagination on display, including special edition Daily Mile’s to incorporate ‘superhero activation stations’, cinematic video compilations and of course, so many inspiring superhero outfits.

St Columban’s Primary School (Kilkeel), Rowandale Integrated Primary School (Moira), Dromintee Primary School (Newry) and John Paul II Primary School (Belfast) have won;

• £250 donation to the school
• 25 pupils from each school are invited to the Moy Park Belfast City Marathon Expo and Pack Collection on Friday 3^rd May including;
  • Complimentary transport courtesy of Translink
  • Participation in a Daily Mile challenge supported by Better
  • Child friendly session on the importance of the lifesaving Air Ambulance NI service
  • Lunch provided by Moy Park
  • Goodie bag including a t-shirt AND medal
• 2 x complimentary entries and a special discount code as a token of thanks to the organising staff for a 2024 event

Read on to hear what it meant to the winning schools and their superhero pupils…

Frances Hughes (Rowandale PS) said;

“The children of Rowandale have been actively involved in The Daily Mile for the past 10 years. As one of the first schools in Northern Ireland to introduce this initiative, we are incredibly proud that it has become a highlight of each day for our children.”

Bronagh Devlin (John Paul II PS) said;

“We decided to run our Superhero Daily Mile Challenge in recognition of the superheroes in our lives who may not always wear capes. Pupils chose to dress up as family members or superhero characters that inspired them. We raised a total of £8000 for a charity close to our hearts, which helped one of our pupils continue to access his education during an incredibly challenging time.”

Meabh O’Hare (St Columban’s PS) said;

“The Daily Mile is a regular activity in our school, but with the added twist of superhero costumes, poses and dances, it created a great event that the school was enthused by. We cannot thank Moy Park Belfast City Marathon enough for the wonderful memories and what will no doubt be a great day out.”

Teresa Murray (Dromintee PS) said;

“The eco committee received the cheque as they devised the fun Superhero themed Daily Mile  route, which included power balloon punches, superhero tumbles and water gun squirts from the "villains", for the whole school to enjoy.”

Belfast City Marathon would like to thank all the primary schools across Northern Ireland that registered and took part in the challenge, and hope the opportunity inspired teachers to make the Daily Mile a regular occurrence for pupils.

For more information and to keep up to date visit belfastcitymarathon.com and stay in touch Facebook / @MarathonBelfast Twitter / @marathonbcm Instagram / @belfastcitymarathon

The Moy Park Belfast City Marathon is sponsored by Moy Park, Northern Ireland Electricity Newtworks, Belfast Live, Daily Mirror, Cool FM, Downtown, Downtown Country, Translink, Better, Tayto, Belfast City Council, Deep RiverRock, Athletics NI, Charles Hurst, and Linwoods Health Foods. The official charity partner is Air Ambulance Northern Ireland.