Paralympian Darren Thrupp trains students in Blue Edge program in Roma

Roma students are participating in eight weeks of training under the guidance of paralympian Darren Thrupp for free breakfast from Maccas and fresh New Balance kicks.

Roma State College participate in the Blue Edge program at Roma PCYC.

Roma State College students are learning first hand about the benefits of movement, through the Blue Edge program, facilitated by Roma police and PCYC.

A group of students from Roma State College have been selected to participate in Roma’s first Blue EDGE program, which sees them participate in fitness activities before school once a week for eight weeks.

The students are lucky enough to be coached by six-time Paralympian Darren Thrupp, who said his primary message as a role model is to just get in and have a go.

“If I can do it, you can too,” he said.

Through the program, Mr Thrupp coaches the students through running, core exercises and team activities like playing soccer, volleyball and futsal.

Roma State College participate in the Blue Edge program at Roma PCYC.

Mr Thrupp has been a personal trainer for 14 year and he said teaching others about the importance of maintaining fitness was incredibly important to him.

He goes so far as to say that he thinks his physical fitness before a devastating crash in 1985 is the reason he’s alive today.

After eight weeks in a coma, he said the doctors and nurses at the Princess Alexandra hospital told him “the only thing that saved me was my fitness”.

He quickly took to running after his accident, competed at his first paralympic games in 1988.

While the Blue Edge program isn’t geared to training future Olympians and Paralympians, Roma district crime prevention co-ordinator Sergeant Daniel Clarke said the program was having positive outcomes for students.

More students are attending and engaging in school as a result of the program, Sergeant Clarke said.

As well as personal training, students are provided with breakfast from McDonald’s and from Woolworths, and at the end of the program will be given a pair of New Balance sneakers.

“Blue EDGE is a program of physical training designed to extend a young person’s mind and physical capability,” Sergeant Clarke said.

“The program also includes career education, motivational speakers and mentoring with a view to having youth actualise their potential.

“The program runs for eight weeks, with two training sessions per week to build routine.

Roma State College participate in the Blue Edge program at Roma PCYC.

“It finishes after the eighth week with a graduation day named ‘The Final EDGE’.

“During The Final EDGE, each young person will engage in physical activities as an individual and as a team member and celebrate their completion of the program.

“Program outcomes include the development of personal relationships and building of rapport between Police, QBLAI (PCYC) Volunteers, participants and their families.

“Each group will be made up of a mixture of at-risk young people and participants who display leadership qualities.

“The aim of this cross-section is to promote positive behaviours and attitudes, instilling a positive mind-set into students regarded as at-risk.

“Blue EDGE has been purposefully designed to take the group through a progressive journey of personal development and fitness.

“The beauty of the program is that you can address any of the local issues through the guest speaker part of the program.”

This term is the first time Blue EDGE has been held in Roma, but Sergeant Clarke said the program is set to continue into the future.

Next term, Blue EDGE will take in a cohort of students from St John’s Catholic school.

Originally published as Paralympian Darren Thrupp trains students in Blue Edge program in Roma