British long jumper Greg Rutherford returned to his childhood town of Milton Keynes to judge year four pupils at Summerfield Primary School who took part in a jumping-themed relay competition in their finest winter-woollies in aid of Save the Children’s Christmas Jumper Day on Friday 15th December.
Ahead of the ‘Jumping in Jumpers’ relay, the Olympic gold-winner took part in the school’s first-ever sports assembly where he awarded eight pupils special sporting awards for their performance during the year. Greg gave an inspiring talk about his journey to becoming an athlete and his experiences along the way before answering questions from the group of young aspiring sportsmen and women.
The MBE-titled British athlete gave his top tips to the eight and nine year olds on how to jump the highest and the longest distances before the whistle blew to commence the ‘Jumping in Jumpers’ competition. The relay saw five teams compete in a special Christmas themed jumping relay which included a sack race, bauble and spoon race, long jump and obstacle course.
Just as the Olympian had swapped his kit for a knit, all the children wore their most festive and best Christmas jumpers to participate in the competition. Greg awarded 3 prizes to the ‘winning team’, ‘best sports personality’ and ‘best jumper’ for the pupil wearing the wackiest woolly.
Greg Rutherford Olympic long jumper said: “I’ve always admired the work Save the Children does around the world so leapt at the chance to support the charity’s Christmas Jumper Day. It’s been an honour to return to my old hometown to talk to aspiring young athletes and judge Summerfield School’s ‘Jumping in Jumpers’ competition. There were some amazing jumpers – both knits and performers – so selecting winners was tough!”
“Like these students, I urge you all to jump into action and take part in Christmas Jumper Day tomorrow. All you have to do is donate £2 to help the world’s most vulnerable children.”
Laura Reynolds, Sports Coordinator at Summerfield Primary School said: “We were absolutely thrilled when we found out that Greg Rutherford, Olympic gold medallist was coming to Summerfield. We are proud of our sporting achievements and to have an Olympian at our first ever sports assembly, presenting our sporting awards and judging the ‘Jumping in Jumpers’ ‘relay, has made it an experience the children will never forget.”
This year, Save the Children’s annual Christmas Jumper Day is taking place tomorrow, Friday 15th December. Flashing, festive knits will be sweeping the nation once again as schools, homes and offices across the country will be ditching their day-to-day dress and donning their daftest, most wonderful woollies for the annual fundraiser.
From knits festooned in jingling bells to jumpers covered in lights, shiny neon tinsel and technicoloured baubles, Save the Children is expecting over 5 million people across the UK to take part in the biggest, silliest Christmas Jumper Day ever and it’s not too late to sign up! Whether it’s with Christmassy colleagues, sparkly school friends or just you and your merry mates, by sticking on a fabulously festive knit, signing up and donating £2 to Save the Children (£1 if you’re at school) at christmasjumperday.org, you will be helping the charity do whatever it takes to make sure the world’s forgotten children get the chance to have a brighter future.
Helena Wiltshire, Head of PR at Save the Children said: “All money raised through wacky woolly-wearing could help give a child living in a refugee camp clothes to keep them warm through winter, help us buy nutritious food for their entire family, or set up a safe space to give children the chance to be children again. Together, we’re can make the world better in our Christmas sweaters.”
As well as Greg Rutherford, this year, a range of celebrities have co-knitted to Christmas Jumper Day, including Nick Grimshaw, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Kate Thornton, Michelle Heaton, Peter Andre, Linda Robson, Keith Lemon, Fearne Cotton, Amanda Holden, Myleene Klass, Holly Willoughby, James Blunt, Julie Walters, Jon Snow, Alan Cumming, Ruth & Eamonn and Kate Garraway, who have all popped on a festive pullover to mark their support for the campaign.
To get involved simply pop your sweater on, get everyone together on December 15th head to christmasjumperday.org to sign up for your free fundraising pack.
