The sixth annual Jumpstart Games on Wednesday (August 29) had close to 300 youth running, jumping, playing, and smiling.

Learning the value of physical literacy, kids from the Cochrane area got to participate in seven different activity stations alongside their peers' thanks to the generosity of the Jumpstart Charity in partnership with Mark's and Sport Chek.

Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre once again hosted the day which also included a hot dog lunch and backpack full of gear for kids to take home.

Robert Hatch, Owner of the Cochrane Canadian Tire store as well as a Board Member for Jumpstart Charities says he sees absolute value in kids being and staying physically active. Two female Olympic Gold medalists, Erica Wiebe and Chandra Crawford, who came to provide brief remarks and celebrate the ongoing partnership between Jumpstart and Ever Active Schools, shared similar thoughts at a brief cheque presentation.

Crawford, a 2006 Olympic Gold cross-country ski sprint champion and Founder of 'Fast and Female', states she spends many days encouraging girls to stay active in sports. "My goal is to keep girls in sports because we know they quit quicker than boys and I started a partnership with Jumpstart. I came to support the event but my huge passion in life is to encourage our girls to stay healthy, happy, and active in sports and to speak with the adults, educators, parents, and coaches about what we need to do to make sports work better for girls." 

Speaking to both boys and girls at the event, Crawford shared her thoughts. "My dream for these kids, both boys, and girls is that they have a joy around being active and access for opportunities, which Jumpstart provides. I don't really care if any of them go to the Olympics I want them to have the resiliency skills that sports provide." 

Hatch repeated much of the same message and states that is exactly why he got involved. "I think I do it because it matters, it's important, people care, and it impacts lives. We know through all the research that children who are active are better socialized, they become better citizens, adults, community leaders and they are the future. It is what we all have to invest in." 

Giving back to the Cochrane community is something Hatch is continuously but quietly involved in. "I like to lead by example, I think action speaks louder than words. I prefer to be a little bit more anonymous but I think other business leaders know who I am and it's action that counts; that is the only thing that is going to change anything."

The Cochrane Chapter of Jumpstart also provides funding for five, RVS Cochrane schools to take part in 'Making Learning Visible'. The program offered by Rocky View Schools' came to be though a provincial initiative known as 'Ever Active Schools' which works with school boards throughout the province to keep kids healthy and active. 

With only enough funding for five, Hatch says we need to find a way to expand the program. "Ever Active Schools is an incredible partner and we are so proud to be associated with them. The hardest part is we only had enough money for five schools in the budget and we have to try to find the money to get the program into every school in Cochrane."

The partnership with Ever Active Schools and Cochrane Jumpstart began last year after Hatch witnessed the success it was achieving in Calgary.

Jumpstart is a national charity dedicated to removing financial and accessibility barriers so that all kids have the chance to play. Since 2005, Jumpstart has helped 1.6 million kids and counting, including more than 1800 in Cochrane, participate in sport, recreation and play.

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Highlighting Cochrane's Non-Profits: Jumpstart Charity