Kids Kick Cancer in the Gut

Calling all kids! The Gutsy Challenge wants kids nation-wide to eat fruit and veg to help beat Australia's most common cancer, gastro-intestinal cancer.

Now in its fifth year, the Gutsy Challenge has changed the eating habits of more than 13,000 children, with kids consuming over 300,000 pieces of fruit and vegetables.

The Gutsy Challenge encourages children to eat 2 fruit and 4 vegetables a day for 1 week whilst raising money for gastro-intestinal cancer research.

As children fundraise they can win great prizes including Shimano bike computers, iCute portable speakers, activity trackers, action cameras and more.

"We saw a change in their attitude towards fruit and veg last year after the Gutsy Challenge, so we hope by taking part each year the students will learn healthy habits for life," said Ms Marie-Claire Hawwa, Stage 3 Coordinator.

"The Gutsy Challenge hits two birds with one stone: it encourages healthy lifestyle, decreasing the chances of obesity in children and raises funds to find a cure for gastro-intestinal cancer," explained Mr Russell Conley, Executive Officer, GI Cancer Institute.

"With the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare showing that 1 in 4 Australian children are either overweight or obese, the Gutsy Challenge is a practical way to reduce this statistic and decrease the risk of developing of gastro-intestinal cancers later in life," said Mr Conley.

"Gastro-intestinal cancers are cancers of the bowel, pancreas, stomach, oesophagus, liver and gallbladder. GI cancer kills 26 Australians everyday and three people are diagnosed with it every hour," Mr Conley added.

Everyone can take part in the Gutsy Challenge, children of all ages, their friends, school, club or family, by simply singing up at: www.gutsychallenge.com. The program runs from March until 30th November 2014.

Photo caption:  Peurla Sadd, 2014 Gutsy Challenge Ambassador, took the Gutsy Challange to help find a cure for gastro-intestinal cancer.