Olympic cyclist Neah Evans asks Highland folk to get active in support of children's charity Mary's Meals
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One of the north of Scotland's most successful athletes is calling on folk across the Highlands and Islands to get active themselves in support of a charity which provides nutritious free meals to children across the globe.
Neah Evans from Cuminestown near Turriff won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics earlier this year as part of the GB women's team pursuit squad.
With her Olympic challenge now completed, she has taken time out to encourage Highlanders to get moving in support of Mary’s Meals as part of the charity’s Move For Meals challenge.
She said: “Move For Meals encourages physical activity while helping Mary’s Meals to feed hungry children in some of the world’s poorest countries.
“It doesn’t matter how you move – you can choose any activity, from cycling to dancing. So, everyone can take part!”
Mary’s Meals recently announced that it is reaching more than two million hungry children in 19 countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the Caribbean with a nutritious daily meal.
The promise of food attracts impoverished children to the classroom, where they can gain an education that will one day be their ladder out of poverty.
Gillian McMahon, director of supporter engagement at Mary’s Meals, said: “Many of us were inspired to get moving by athletes like Neah during the Tokyo Olympics.
“Now, people can turn their moves into meals by setting themselves an active challenge to raise funds to help reach the next million children waiting for Mary’s Meals.”
It costs just £15.90 for Mary’s Meals to feed a child at school for a whole year, with 93p from every £1 going directly to the charity’s feeding programmes.
By taking part in Move For Meals, fundraisers are helping to transform the lives of children like eight-year-old Joseph, who attends Tanambao Primary School in Madagascar.
Joseph, whose favourite subject is science, says: “The first time I heard that we will start to eat at school, I was not able to imagine how it can be possible to feed all the children every lunch time, every day, but now it is happening, it's amazing!
’I hope that this school feeding programme will continue forever!"
Move For Meals is a flexible campaign that allows supporters to set their own active challenge. This could be anything from taking inspiration from Neah to to get cycling, to running or swimming, dancing or even skipping over a set period of time for a certain distance or number of skips, hops or jumps.
Those taking part can raise funds by either collecting sponsorship or choosing to donate to mark their achievement.
To find out more about organising your own Move For Meals fundraiser and read about other supporters' experiences, visit marysmeals.org.uk/move
