On Saturday ninety girls from schools in Yorkshire are looking to make history at the TCS Mini London Marathon as they become the first M2 participants to feature in the event.

This event will mark the conclusion of a joint initiative between Leeds Well School Partnership (LWSP) and M2: Where Movement and Mindfulness Meet, which provides a ‘safe, judgement-free space for primary school girls to engage in physical activity and build their confidence and resilience’.

On this initiative and the mini-marathon, the Leeds Well School Partnership Director Jill Wilkinson said: “This opportunity was made possible through vital funding and strong partnerships. We know this programme works, and we have the data to prove it. Taking 90 girls to a national event like this shows the scale of impact we’re achieving.”

The Leeds programme, which is funded by the Jane Tomlinson Appeal, offers eight sessions culminating in a 5km challenge, with similar programmes also running in Sheffield, Hull, Derby and Lincolnshire.

The upcoming event is a ‘major milestone’ for the M2 programme, as alongside representing Leeds on a national stage, the 90 girls are also the first cohort to be given this opportunity thanks to the London Marathon Foundation.

On this impact that this history-making moment may have in Leeds, the Children & Young People Engagement Lead at the London Marathon Foundation, Emma Mackenzie said: “This is more than a one-off experience; this is the start of something bigger.”

“Through local collaborations like this and our own partnerships with The Daily Mile Foundation and Junior parkrun, we're building a legacy fostering an accessible and inspiring participation pathway that creates more opportunities for young girls to be active, confident, and inspired.”

The programme, which helps ‘girls to develop healthier habits alongside increased confidence and resilience', will also help oung girls experience their first major sporting event at the TCS Mini London Marathon.

Further to the upcoming mini-marathon, the programme has
also had previous measurable success with ‘96% of M2 girls say they enjoy running, and 80% say they feel more confident speaking up and having their voices heard’.

On the impact that the initiative will have on young girls in Leeds, Jill Wilkinson said: “LWSP is incredibly proud of all those taking part and grateful for their dedication, which continues to inspire the next generation.”

This weekend’s mini-marathon will not only allow the programme to celebrate the achievements of those involved, including the adult ‘role models’ who will also take part in the TCS London Marathon and the Rob Burrows Leeds Marathon, but also give visibility to girls from Leeds.