DUNC SPARKS CATS

The sight of Rubie O’Brien’s beaming smile as she whizzes through the streets on her new trike should brighten up your day.

Despite spending the majority of her life in plaster cast and undergoing operation after operation, the three-year-old is still determined to get out there and enjoy life.

Rubie was born with spina bifida but still posses that lust for life and desire to get out and about that too many in our society have either forgotten or discarded.

A recent survey by Public Health England revealed that middle aged people could barely manage a brisk 10-minute walk every month.

The level of inactivity among those who need to be active most is truly shocking, but youngsters like Rubie and the hundreds who took part in the Active Sunderland BIG Walk at the weekend should inspire.

If a three-year-old with such a debilitating condition can fight back with courage, then why can’t those with no excuse do the same?

The Active Sunderland BIG Walk was well supported and delivered on its promise to get people active and encourage a healthy lifestyle. And we certainly need it. No sooner had the Public Health England survey revealed a lazy epidemic, than another poll, this time from UK active, showed that people spend twice as much time on the toilet than they do exercising.

What a sad indictment of modern living.

Thank goodness then to see the health message is slowly beginning to filter through, with more than 400 people taking part.

And if you’re still not convinced, take a look at Rubie O’Brien’s beaming smile. If that doesn’t motivate you, nothing will.