Genesis, which comprises nine gyms across Newcastle, Maitland, Cessnock and Coffs Harbour have launched Movement Matters – a local school competition that encourages kids to get physical.

Genesis owner John Pirlo said each of his clubs are looking for three primary schools to take part in MEPember. MEP (MyZone Effort Point) is a term used to represent the intensity of exercise based on MyZone Heart Rate Training.. 

The winning school from each area will be rewarded with $1000 of the sporting equipment of their choice. In total, Genesis will give away $9000 to local schools.

The competition got under way earlier this week through Genesis’ Facebook page and within two hours of the launch received 100,000 views and more than 750 shares with thousands of comments. “It just goes to show the enthusiasm for sport and exercise in schools,” Mr Pirlo said.

To enter, Genesis’ nine outlets are calling for nominations from schools. The three schools with the most entries with their particular gym, will move onto the next phase of the competition. Genesis will give smaller schools a handicap.

“We were not intending to get so much attention,” Mr Pirlo said. “We wanted to reach out to our members to see what schools their kids went to.”

The members choose their school of choice and the three schools with the most amount of comments on their gym’s Facebook Page will be nominated.

Once the final three schools for each club are announced, they each try to get as many MEPs in during MEPember as they can.

The Club Coaching Zone members can donate their MEPs to the school of their choice. Kids participate too by exercise done at their school, or in their local Genesis clubs.  Nominations close on August 23. 

“We’re reaching out to our schools and getting them involved in exercise in general,” he said.

“This is a way of getting parents, kids and teachers involved and inspiring them to move more,” Mr Pirlo said. “We’re certainly blown away by the way the community has got behind this.”