MAY is going to be a fruitful time for hundreds of schoolchildren throughout Bury.
They will be among a quarter of a million pupils in the North West who will ultimately receive free fruit every school day. It's thanks to a rolling £42 million scheme funded by the biggest of the National Lottery good cause distributors, the New Opportunities Fund.
Already, 70,000 pupils in the region are enjoying the fruit. This number is set to rise rapidly to a figure of 322,696 as other schools in the region join in during the next few months.
Bury schools will benefit when fruit will be handed out from May 19. Evidence suggests eating fruit and vegetables helps reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease and that healthy eating habits need to be formed early in childhood in order to prevent disease later in life.
The Fund's regional officer, Michelle McNamee said: "Eating fruit early in life will help children form habits that will benefit them in the long term and help reduce the likelihood of serious illness later in life."
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