I.C. a Polar Bear In The School!
EIGHTEEN primary schools in Stockton-on-Tees are ‘bearly’ able to contain their excitement this week following the announcement that Billingham Forum’s resident polar bear mascot ‘iC The Bear’ will be visiting them. 
iC will entertain and educate the children as part of the ‘Active Start’ launch, Tees Active’s new range of health and fitness activities tailored specifically to children.
The five-minute presentations, which will explain the benefits of exercise and healthy eating, will run from Monday 11th July to Friday 22nd July.
Schools iC will be attending include Billingham South Primary, Oxbridge Lane Primary and Norton Primary among others.
Stockton-based Tees Active hopes that the visits will encourage youngsters to participate in fitness activities, helping address the growing trend in childhood obesity.
Steven Chaytor, Managing Director of Tees Active, said: “Whilst the presentations will be entertaining, there is an important message. Participation in sport and physical activity early in life helps to prevent obesity, heart disease and a range of other conditions as well as providing psychological and social benefits. With one in six children aged six to fifteen now classed as clinically obese, it is vital that children can have fun whilst physically active and our ‘Active Start’ programme provides that.”