DUDLEY’S mayor will be joining Stourbridge schoolchildren today (Monday, November 28) as they take part in a national project to help stay fit and healthy.

Councillor Mohammed Hanif is spending his day at St James’s CofE School where he will join staff and pupils as they run their Daily Mile around their school grounds.

The event is part of the Daily Mile initiative, a national scheme aimed at getting children to run a mile and learn the importance of keeping active.

Dudley borough’s Daily Mile – which involves running or walking outside for 15 minutes every day – was launched earlier this year by the council’s healthy schools public health programme and had support from the previous mayor, Cllr Steve Waltho and Sarah Norman, the council’s chief executive.

Elaine Wyllie, the founder of the initiative, will also join the mayor at St James’s to see the project in action, and she will also be talking to primary headteachers about the initiative.

Cllr Hanif, Mayor of Dudley, said: “This is a fantastic initiative and it is a pleasure to be able to share this experience with the children on the day and to meet Elaine Wyllie to talk to her about the inspiration behind the Daily Mile.

“We have already seen a number of schools embrace this important initiative which gives children the opportunity to learn about the importance of keeping fit and active and leading healthy lifestyles.”