Pupils played Princes and Princesses as they took part in a special walk to St Francis Junior School in Newton Aycliffe with their very own MEGA Motion Monarch.
Demi-Leigh Steward, 11, won a MEGA Motion competition to decide which famous hero or villain should accompany them and was rewarded with Henry VIII himself escorting the pupils as they walked, cycled and scooted to school. Princess Demi-Leigh (the first) and her classmates were not alone in dressing like royalty as even some school staff got in on the regal act, dressing as kings and queens.
Once there, pupils enjoyed a special assembly highlighting the benefits of healthy and environmentally friendly ways of getting to school as well as hearing all about Henry’s battle with King Francis of France.
The special day was the latest Durham County Council MEGA Motion event which comes under the wider local Motion campaign promoting sustainable transport throughout south Durham. The campaign aims to encourage children to walk, scoot or ride to school to make them aware of the health and environmental benefits from an early age.
As well as the fun walks centred around this year’s theme of Heroes and Villains, pupils earn points every time they use sustainable travel to get to school, aiming to collect enough points to become MEGA heroes by the end of the year.
Cllr Neil Foster, Cabinet member for economic regeneration, said: “MEGA Motion is a brilliant scheme, helping our children to stay healthy and teaching them all about environmentally friendly ways of travel from a young age. It’s great to see the kids enjoy such a memorable day and we’d like to wish them all good luck in their quest to become MEGA Heroes!”
