‘The best school visit we have had since the school was established 26 years ago’ Scott Johnson, PE teacher at Pinon Valley Elementary School in Colorado Springs, CO, USA

Picture 1: Jim and Alf at the start of their adventures in 2013

Here are some comments from parents (and one or two staff members) following a JimGump visit:

• A brilliant storyteller!

• You inspired one little girl who hates all PE in school today, she thoroughly

enjoyed herself which is a huge thing for her so thank you for taking the time

to visit

• My daughter couldn’t stop talking about your visit. You certainly made an

impression on her. She kept reciting stories from you talk throughout the

evening. I said to her that you sound like a lovely & interesting person & I

wish I could have been at school! Thank you for taking the time to visit them

all

• Thank you Jim. I knew your visit would be a success because of you and be-

cause of the school culture, a perfect match and it was moving to see your

passion reflected in the children. I believe if you had stayed all week they

would still be asking more questions!

• My sons were buzzing with excitement after your visit, they loved it, thank

you. Your words brought tears to my eyes. You are an inspiration

• My boys absolutely loved your visit. My youngest boy literally overflowed

with the information he absorbed from you, (he’s suspected autistic and par-

tially sighted and can retain an enormous about of information to the finest

detail) so now I feel like I was there too! My eldest boy told my husband all

about it and then asked to watch Forrest Gump that evening because he

wanted to understand why they call you Gump! What a wonderful thing you

have done, inspiring our children the way you have. Couldn’t be more grate-

ful.

• I wanted to reach out to say thank you for coming to see my son and all his

friends at St Vigor and St John School yesterday. … I often get very little out

of my son about his day ‘good’ is pretty much all I get. Yesterday however

he was unstoppable. Needless to say I felt I wanted to feed back that you are

truly reaching, engaging and inspiring a generation and both my husband

and I wanted to thank you for that- especially with the threat of false envi-

ronments within social media.

Dear Principal / Head Teacher / Deputy Head / PE Teacher / Governor / SSP, Please find below some information, along with illustrative photographs, concerning Jim Plunkett-Cole’s unique and inspirational school visits. In summary, starting on 1st January 2013 and having been inspired by the London 2012 Olympics, Jim Plunkett-Cole set out on an incredible physical and educational adventure in order to prevent obesity and other inactivity-related health issues in children (and adults). Along the way, Jim has visited tens of thousands of children in schools across North America and the United Kingdom, inspiring them into a lifetime of physical activity through his many wonderful tales of personal physical challenges and adventures:

• Running an average of 10 miles a day since 1st Jan 2013 to the present day, with no day missed of a 10K minimum (6.21 mile)

• Completing 20,000 miles of continuous daily running for 2,000 days, and still going strong

• Completed a 10,000 mile ‘Forrest Gump run (6,000 miles in the US and 4,000 miles in the UK), averaging 16 miles a day for 616 days

• Completed a triathlon every single day for the whole of 2015, comprising a 750m swim, 20K cycle and 10K run (for 365 consecutive days)

• Covered 15,000 miles accompanied by his dogs through the countryside In July 2018, Jim is starting his next physical and educational challenge. Titled ‘Jim & Flow’s Amazing Equator Adventure’, the challenge will see Jim and dog, Flow, attempt to run the 25,000 miles of the equator together in their lifetimes as running companions. Whilst obviously a ‘virtual run’ (as most of the equator is covered by water), the challenge requires running an average of 7 miles a day together for 10 years (3,650 days)!!!! The Equator Adventure has been specifically designed to engage with children of primary school age, who can follow and learn about Jim and Flow’s progress as they cross the world’s 360 lines of longitude, discovering the countries and seas and oceans as they go (and what lies within). During the adventure, Jim will continue to visit schools across the UK (and possibly around the world through ‘virtual school visits’). Jim’s visits are an ideal way of launching initiatives in schools that are seeking to increase the overall level of physical activity amongst their pupils (and/or participation in sport and existing initiatives). The visits comprise three main elements to inspire and motivate the children (and whole school) into a lifetime of daily physical activity:

1. An amazing, interactive and multi-layered storytelling talk to the school

assembly explaining Jim’s achievements and marvellous encounters with

nature and wildlife and people along the way;

Followed by,

2. An exciting group run (or runs depending on school size) around the field /

playground with the children, all supporting and encouraging each other,

and with a cheery group photo at the end of the run (for the school to use

in newsletters and the school website etc.);

Followed by,

3. Individual class visits to answer (the many) questions from the children,

and to tell more stories and to reinforce the simple messages about the

importance and benefits of daily physical activity.

The visit requires no more than 2 hours of each child’s time (30 minute assembly, less than an hour for the group runs and 20 minute visit to their class). Beyond the initial visit, families are invited to join in with the (free) Kids x 365 School & Family Challenge. The initiative provides the children and their associated families with their own Equator Adventure challenge of trying to be more active, circling the world’s equator over the course of a year and collecting milestone achievement cards as they go. The initiative works really well with school - Golden Mile / Daily Mile / Move A Mile / Active Kids Do Better / Wake & Shake - or other school sport and physical activity initiatives. In doing these things Jim is trying to help prevent the many negative physical and mental health issues / problems (and cost) associated with sedentary lifestyles in both children and their parents. However, he is also trying to help promote the incredible (and increasingly well-evidenced) physical and mental positive benefits of physical activity. These benefits not only include the obvious health benefits, but also mental and cognitive benefits such as:

• Improved immune system

• lower anxiety;

• improved concentration and focus and improved academic performance;

• improved creativity and innovation and problem-solving;

• higher levels of self-confidence, self-esteem, and self-motivation;

• improved self-management;

• improved ability to inspire others and to take the initiative to help and encourage others; and,

• improved leadership. Inspired into a lifetime of physical activity in early years children will not only have a better quality of life (for life), but will also go on to achieve far greater things in life, and from a much earlier age (than if they had led a sedentary lifestyle whilst young).

The ‘double whammy’ positive impact on society as a whole is immense and obvious; fewer mental and physical health problems and associated cost throughout life combined with children achieving more in their lifetimes. Jim also uses his work to raise awareness about Asperger Syndrome in children and adults. The charge for the initial school visit is £300 for larger schools where a full day is required and £200 in smaller schools where only a morning is required. The school visits have been designed to fit with the PE and Sport Premium for schools. For schools that do not have the funds for a full visit, the 30 minute assembly ‘Talk’ will be provided completely free of charge. The sessions work best if the children have only been told a little about Jim and his challenges and adventures before the visit. It’s probably sufficient simply to explain that you have an ‘amazing running man’ coming to see them (or something like that). Just to build their interest and excitement. (Jim actually explains in the talk that he is not particularly ‘amazing’, but that each one of them in the room could do the things he does…and that some of them will go on to do great things in their lifetime).

The session also works best if, in advance of the visit, the children make their own ‘race / bib numbers’. We’ve included some photos of the simple A4 or smaller examples in the photos below. The visits work even better if the teachers and head-teacher make race numbers! Most schools invite along the local newspapers and many in the US invited along local TV stations. (In the US Jim was featured in the Washington Post and USA Today and also in many local newspapers and on many local TV stations as he went along). We hope that all makes sense. We are happy to tailor the visit to your requirements as best we can. Jim is Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) certified. Should you be interested in a visit, please contact us via one of the channels below. We look forward to hearing from you. The Jim Gump Team 07854 143539 thejimgump@yahoo.com

https://www.facebook.com/JimGumpUK/ On the pages below we have attached a list of all the schools Jim has visited so far, along with some photos which illustrate the JimGump project. One or two of the photos

are also in the Powerpoint Talk presentation Jim does, so please don’t show them to the children!

Schools Visited To Date School Visit Number Name of School

Village / Town / City

County / Region / State Country Year

1 Bishop Henderson Primary School Coleford Somerset England, UK 2015

2 St Michael's Primary School Stoke Gifford South Gloucestershire England, UK 2016

3 St Peter's Primary School South Croyden Surrey England, UK 2016

4 St George's Primary School Semington Wiltshire England, UK 2016

5 Tynings Primary School Staple Hill South Gloucestershire England, UK 2016

6 High Littleton Primary School High Littleton B&NES England, UK 2016

7 Hemington Primary School Hemington Somerset England, UK 2016

8 St Benedict's Primary School Glastonbury Somerset England, UK 2016

9 Pensford Primary School Pensford B&NES England, UK 2016

10 All Saints Primary School Weston, Bath B&NES England, UK 2016

11 Writhlington School Year 7 Radstock B&NES England, UK 2016

12 Emerson's Green Emerson's Green South Gloucestershire England, UK 2016

13 Stoke Lodge Primary School Patchway, Bristol South Gloucestershire England, UK 2016

15 Stoke Gifford Pre-School Stoke Gifford South Gloucestershire England, UK 2016

14 Trinity Primary School Frome Somerset England, UK 2016

15 Mells First School Mells Somerset England, UK 2016

16 Holt Primary School Holt Wiltshire England, UK 2016

17 Long Ashton Primary School Long Ashton Bristol England, UK 2016

18 Ed White Elementary School, El Lago Houston Texas USA 2016

19 British International School of Houston Houston Texas USA 2016

20 Ault Elementary School, Cypress Houston Texas USA 2016

21 Woodcreek Elementary School, Katy Houston Texas USA 2016

22 Miller Outdoor Theatre (Homeschooled), Houston Houston Texas USA 2016

23 Ingram Elementary School Ingram Texas USA 2016

24 Boys and Girls Club of America Menard Texas USA 2016

25 Eldorado Elementary School Eldorado Texas USA 2016

26 Fort Concho Elementary School San Angelo Texas USA 2017

27 The Village School Houston Texas USA 2017

28 British International School, South Loop Chicago Illinois USA 2017

29 British International School, Lincoln Park Chicago Illinois USA 2017

30 International School, New York New York City New York City USA 2017

31 British International School of Boston Boston Massachusetts USA 2017

32 British International School of Washington Washington Washington, D.C. USA 2017

33 British International School of Charlotte Charlotte North Carolina USA 2017

34 North Broward Preparatory School Coconut Creek Florida USA 2017

35 Windermere Preparatory School Orlando Florida USA 2017

36 Peabody Elementary School, Denver, Co Denver Colorado USA 2017

37 The Classical Academy Colorado Springs Colorado USA 2017

38 Pinon Valley Elementary Colorado Springs Colorado USA 2017

39 A Boulder Elementary School Boulder Colorado USA 2017

40 Temple Grandin School Boulder Colorado USA 2017

School Visit Number Name of School

Village / Town / City

County / Region / State Country Year

41 Trailblazer Elementary School Colorado Springs Colorado USA 2017

42 The School in the Woods Colorado Springs Colorado USA 2017

43 Carthay Elementary School Los Angeles California USA 2017

44 Lockwood Elementary School Los Angeles California USA 2017

45 Dorris Place Elementary School Los Angeles California USA 2017

46 Santa Monica Blvd Elementary School Los Angeles California USA 2017

47 Crestview Elementary School Simi Valley California USA 2017

48 Beckington Primary School Beckington Somerset England, UK 2017

49 Mells Primary School Mells Somerset England, UK 2017

50 St John's Primary School Midsomer Norton B&NES England, UK 2017

51 Yatton Primary School Yatton North Somerset England, UK 2017

52 Rowanfield Primary School Cheltenham Gloucestershire England, UK 2017

53 Westfield Primary School Westfield B&NES England, UK 2017

54 Abermule Community Primary School Abermule Powys Wales, UK 2017

55 Peasedown St John Primary School Peasedown SJ B&NES England, UK 2017

56 Long Ashton Primary School Long Ashton Bristol England, UK 2017

57 Almondsbury Primary School Almondsbury South Gloucs England, UK 2017

58 Portishead Primary School Portishead North Somerset England, UK 2017

59 Midsomer Norton Primary School Midsomer Norton B&NES England, UK 2017

60 St Mary's Primary School Writhlington B&NES England, UK 2017

61 Clutton Primary School Clutton B&NES England, UK 2017

62 Longerval Primary School Midsomer Norton B&NES England, UK 2017

63 St Cuthbert's Primary School Wells Somerset England, UK 2017

64 Wookey Primary School Wookey Somerset England, UK 2017

65 Kilmersdon Primary School Kilmersdon Somerset England, UK 2017

66 St Benedict's Primary School Glastonbury Somerset England, UK 2017

67 Oldfield Park Junior School Bath B&NES England, UK 2017

68 Camely Primary School Temple Cloud B&NES England, UK 2017

69 Anerley Primary School London London England, UK 2017

70 St Martin's Garden Primary School Bath B&NES England, UK 2017

71 Meadows First School Bromsgrove Worcestershire England, UK 2017

72 Parkside Middle School Bromsgrove Worcestershire England, UK 2017

73 Paxcroft School Trowbridge Wiltshire England, UK 2017

74 St Nicholas Chantry School Clevedon North Somerset England, UK 2017

75 Waingroves Primary School Ripley Derbyshire England, UK 2017

76 St Nicholas Primary School Radstock B&NES England, UK 2018

77 Westbury on Trym Academy Bristol Bristol England, UK 2018

79 The Mendip School Prestleigh Mendip England, UK 2018

80 North Cadbury Primary School North Cadbury South Somerset England, UK 2018

81 Leigh on Mendip First School Leigh on Mendip Mendip England, UK 2018

82 St Vigor and St John School Chilcompton Mendip England, UK 2018

83 Bailey's Court Primary School Bradley Stoke South Gloucestershire England, UK 2018

Picture 2: JimGump has already 'virtually' crossed the US around 7 times!!!

Picture 3: Jim on the Mendip Hills in Somerset, 2017

Picture 4: Running an ultramarathon in Colorado Springs in April, 2017

Picture 5: Typical school assembly talk

Picture 6: Wild alligator in a ditch, sadly surrounded by litter, but located right next to the very opulent Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida

Picture 7: The Rocky Mountains

Picture 8: Individual class visit

Picture 9: Emma Ginnelly, the teacher who came up with the race / bib number idea, once said to Jim...'Jim, it works because you 'make everyone feel like a champion'.

Picture 10: Running with the children in Houston

Picture 11:Eldorado Elementary School in Texas

Picture 12: The children make their own race / bib numbers for the visit

Picture 13: Houston

Picture 14: Frome, Somerset

Picture 15: A 50 mile Strava tribute that was shared all over the world and seen by tens of millions of basketball fans

Picture 16: Exercise helps cognitive processes; exercise supports concentration, study and creativity!!!