We can all back Glas-goals

The Evening Times campaign to get Glasgow on the road to a fitter, healthier future has won the backing of MSPs.

Since the Glas-goals campaign was launched last month, support has come in from the Government, health officials, celebrities and sporting stars from the city and across Scotland.

The year-long drive to improve the city’s health by setting three targets on fitness, diet and smoking is designed to motivate the city into a collective effort. Getting more people active in mass-participation running and walking events, and supporting people wanting to lose weight and to quit smoking, will see tens of thousands of Glaswegians improve their lifestyle.

The initiative was recognised this week by Liberal Democrat MSP Robert Brown who put down a motion in the Scottish Parliament congratulating the Evening Times and wishing the campaign success.

Mr Brown’s motion received the backing of 17 MSPs from all over the country and from all five parties represented at Holyrood. Rarely does anything unite the SNP, Labour, Conservatives, LibDems, and the Greens, but Glas-goals has managed to get an all-party alliance behind it.

Mr Brown’s motion said: “The parliament congratulates the Evening Times for its health campaign, Glas-goals and its three targets of walking or running a million miles for Glasgow, stubbing out a million cigarettes for Glasgow and shedding half a million pounds in weight for Glasgow over the next year.”

The motion continued: “Campaigning newspapers like the Evening Times can have a tremendous effect in changing attitudes and lifestyles, and we wish Glas-goals all success in its challenge in the year ahead.” Mr Brown was joined in praising the campaign by LibDem colleagues Jim Tolson, Hugh O’Donnell and the party’s health spokesman Ross Finnie.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon has already given Glas-goals her support.

She said: “The health benefits for both children and adults in engaging in even light exercise are well documented and I would encourage all Glaswegians to get behind this campaign.”

Labour Leader Iain Gray, Tory leader Annabel Goldie and Tavish Scott, leader of the LibDems, also backed the campaign at its launch.

Pupils dance their way to healthy lifestyle

By Ann Fotheringham

Salsa with a Scottish twist caught passers-by in George Square by surprise.

Pupils from Govan High, which is celebrating its centenary this year, caused a stir when they took over the square for a flashdance event, inspired by a similar one in a Belgian train station.

The Glasgow event had a Scottish slant, however, with the dancers, led by head teacher Iain White, entering to the sound of Scots music.

They persuaded shoppers and workers on their lunch breaks to join in the fun.

As the Evening Times health and fitness campaign Glas-goals continues, Mr White said he hoped the event would inspire everyone to get involved.

“Glas-goals is a great campaign, and a very necessary one,” he said. “We all read the statistics – poor health is a big problem in Glasgow.

“So if people are inspired by what we did in George Square – to do things that are fun, creative and a little bit different, that get the healthy message across while still being enjoyable – we will all be on to a winner.”

Gavin Dorrian, dance artist in residence at Govan High School, has been working for the last few weeks with students to learn the moves.

He said: “We hope to remind people of the important role dance can play in their lives. Dancing is a positive way to release energy and emotions and is a great source of exercise.

“We wanted to do something different to help launch our centenary celebrations. Our youngsters were so excited and they really loved dancing in George Square.”

Mr White added: “While our centenary celebrations are about remembering the past we are trying to look to the exciting future ahead for our school.

“Doing something like this ‘flashdance’ is of its time and captures what the modern Govan High School is about.”

To learn more about Govan High’s centenary click on http://ghs100.org.uk