PHYSICAL education teacher Chad Kolcze, 36, now of Byron Bay, puts his healthy teachings to the test from September 3 to 9 by skateboarding from Canberra to Thredbo.
The ride is to raise awareness of childhood obesity in Australia and low literacy skills in boys. The initiative is in conjunction with a series of Active Kids Books released by Chad, with the latest (and third) title Shredding Snow.
Th earlier titles are Skate Session and Surf Safari.
The series promotes physical activity to children from two to eight years.
During the skateboard marathon, Chad will visit six schools and will also do a lap of Parliament House.
The theme of the ride is "More pushing, less plasma".
Chad said that one in four children were (statistically) overweight and Australian boys showed significantly lower literacy levels than other nationalities.
"With a little inspiration, contemporary literature and positive role-modelling, these negative trends can be rolled over," he said.
Chad is being supported by his brother Ryan, partner Emma Hawkins, her children Daisy, 8 and Cooper 5, and his children Maiso, 9 and Tiger-Lily, 5.
Chad is formerly from Ormiston and attended Ormiston Primary and Cleveland High schools.
His mother Denice said as a child, Chad was a regular skateboarder on the streets of Redlands including at the skatepark near the Cleveland swimming pool.
Chad is an ex-pro snowboarder and coordinator of the Uncle Project, which offers positive role models to boys aged six to 12.
More on ActiveKids Books.info@gmail.com