More than 4,000 young people are going to come together in Stanley Park in Liverpool on Valentines Day to show that they love their hearts.
Children from 60 primary schools across the city are taking part in a mass fitness activity which will see them dance together to songs such as the ‘Cha Cha Slide’ and Kool and the Gang’s ‘Celebration’. 
The event is designed to help show that physical activity is fun, easy to do and is important to prevent obesity, particularly as figures released recently show that in Liverpool around 13,000 children are obese.
The event – titled ‘Love Parks, Play in Liverpool’ – is being funded by the city council and Liverpool Primary Care Trust (PCT).
Councillor Wendy Simon, Cabinet member for leisure, said: “This will be a fantastic and inspiring event making use of one of our beautiful parks.
“If we get our young people to build exercise into their daily routine, it is something that will pay dividends in future years as it will be a natural part of their day and help keep them fit and active.
“Rise and Shine is a really simple way of getting young people to do some exercise and enjoy themselves at the same time – and there is nowhere better to do it than one of our wonderful green spaces.”
It forms part of Liverpool’s Rise and Shine project, in which more than 15,000 children every year take part in a dance routine before classes every day to make sure they are fully fit for learning.
The scheme has been a huge success at schools, with teachers reporting that children are more focused and pay increased attention in class. It has led to improved attendance and behaviour.
Liverpool youngsters hold the Guinness World Record for the largest dance class over multiple venues, with almost 27,000 children and teachers taking part in a simultaneous Rise and Shine event in 2008.
