John McCormack, whose Thanet-based Skip2bfit schools programme is gaining momentum nationwide, is hosting the second annual skipping challenge among the UK’s members of parliament.

Ropes will be at the ready as politicians skip to it at the Palace of Westminster tomorrow (Tuesday, March 10)trying to beat the score of last year’s winner, Conservative David Davies who managed 245 skips in two minutes.

Thanet’s MPs Steve Ladyman and Roger Gale took part in the 2008 challenge. Dr Ladyman registered 87 skips while Mr Gale recorded 'token skipping.’

Mr McCormack said: “I hope the 2009 event will be bigger and better than last year. It is some achievement for a little Thanet-based initiative to have made it all the way to the Houses of Parliament.”

Skip2bfit was invited by the Youth Sport Trust to attend a Sainbury’s activity awards event at the company’s headquarters last month, where Mr McCormack and seven-year-old Sam Wright from Chatham put on a demonstration.

The event was introduced by Sainsbury’s chief executive Justin King, who himself has undertaken the Skip2bfit challenge, achieving a respectable 170 skips in two minutes and has been a big supporter of Skip2bfit. It was chaired by the chair of the Youth Sport Trust, Baroness Sue Campbell and prizes were presented by Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes.

Skip2bfit has also become a member of the Youth Sports Trust’s Business Honours Club. Skip2bfit is now one of only 30 companies in the Business Honours Club of the Youth Sports Trust and it will now mean many more schools nationally will be able to engage in the programme.

Mr McCormack added: “Motivation and sustainability are the key to the success of Skip2bfit and this is why I developed a six-week challenge for schools to follow. We visit for one day to motivate the whole school, and then the schools are given our kitbag of ropes along with classroom challenge charts, lesson plans and music to follow. I have visited hundreds of schools and in every school I visit in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales or England I get the same response to the idea, kids love to be challenged.”

Find out more at www.skip2bfit.com; email john@skip2bfit.com, or telephone 01843 603020.