I am a firm believer that any physical activity or creative pursuit can be instantly empowering for the individual. Taking the first step and creating positive momentum can be uplifting in isolation or through consistency, showing progress over time, can be truly game changing in a persons life.
Getting started
As a child, there are situations I can recall when I didn’t start, or continue a sport, or get involved or take up an opportunity as I didn’t recognise the benefit to me, felt uncertainty, fear of failure or just wanted to watch tv. It wasn’t until later life I learned the power of starting and taking action.
Many other children have much more valid reasons for not engaging in exercise or choosing not to express their creativity as they have significant challenges to deal with. Some are disadvantaged by poverty, inequality, domestic issues which can lead to poor health and well being.
Addressing the challenge
These challenges are not simple to address and require a broad coalition of stakeholders across society. That said, taking positive action to expose as many children as possible to positive role models and encourage healthier, active, creative activities, whether that be through popular culture, education, parents or educators, could lead to them taking that first step to a better future. By providing a path to run on, through opportunities and tools, could provide hope, increased self confidence and momentum to children that feel disillusioned and demotivated.
That is why I have started out on a journey to encourage children to enjoy exercise, build self confidence and express their creativity through positive messages and values in The Cheetah Cub Running Club.
The Cheetah Cub Running Club started as a series of chapter books and we are now looking to take our positive message of Empowerment through Exercise and the wider Cheetah Cub Values into schools. Our goal is this leads to building out a community of likeminded individuals and stakeholders who want to join us on this journey to make a difference in children’s lives so please do get in touch if this describes you.
The first book in the Cheetah Cub Running Club series is now free on Amazon so do check it out, or share with a primary or middle school child if you think they would benefit from its uplifting story.
For more information please visit the Cheetahcubrunning.club website or email me at Philip@philiplaslett.com
I am excited for the future and look forward to learning from children and the wider community on how we can make a small difference in the lives of future generations.
