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Bicycle Network Mind. Body. Pedal
Mind. Body. Pedal shortlisted for health award

Bicycle Network’s Ride2School initiative, Mind. Body. Pedal, has been chosen as a finalist in the Encouraging Physical Activity category for the 2017 VicHealth Awards.

Mind. Body. Pedal is a program for high schools aimed at getting teenage girls active through bike riding.

Studies show that teenage girls are getting less than half their recommended 60 minutes of daily exercise, largely due to barriers such as fear and ridicule – barriers not faced as much by boys.

The program sets out to celebrate differences and create a country of active, positive, and confident women on bikes.

Bicycle Network Victorian Ride2School Victorian Manager, Sarah Diamond, said that it was exciting to get recognition for a program that is getting more teenage girls active.

“We are extremely proud to have Mind.Body.Pedal shortlisted as a finalist for the 2017 VicHealth awards,” said Ms Diamond.

“After taking part in a Mind.Body.Pedal event schools see twice as many female students riding to school. We hope that recognition from VicHealth will inspire more schools to get involved in the program”

It is the second year in a row Mind.Body.Pedal has been nominated for a VicHealth award.

VicHealth CEO Jerril Rechter said the quality of this year’s nominations was outstanding.

“We received a record number of nominations across 10 categories this year, from small community gardening projects supporting disadvantaged families to state-wide campaigns confronting challenging health issues,” she said.

“It’s inspiring to see so many organisations working with communities and using health promotion to improve the health and wellbeing of Victorians.”

Winners will be announced on Tuesday 5 December 2017 at the VicHealth Awards Ceremony at Melbourne Museum.

To see more about the program, visit mindbodypedal.com.au.

Click here for more information about the 2017 VicHealth Awards.