Kids Fun Run with 'Thomas' (Get 'em Young)

When I reached J.A.C. Russell Park at 7.00am on my walk yesterday, Sunday, there was a hive of activity in progress. Barrier signs 'Road Closed' were placed across Inness Rd. and vehicles were unloading equipment such as an inflatable jumping castle and market stall tents.
The whole scene made me comment to Merle, who works for Puffing Billy, "I'll have to stay out of town today to avoid this lot."
"Why don't you come up about ten o'clock," countered Merle, "the kids love it, they have a great time." I walked off saying I had a lot to do but would see how I go, but had no intention of going anywhere near it.
Around the corner I met Norm Smith, as I often do, and I said to Norm, "Listen mate, am I getting to be a grumpy old stick in the mud, or am I right to be annoyed by this fun run hoo ha?"
Norm is not a big Puffing Billy fan, but he replied thoughtfully, "Oh Well, I suppose it's a bit of fun for the kids and brings a bit of business to the take away food shops and the pub."
This morning on my walk, with the benefit of a day to think about it, when I got to J.A.C. Russell Park there was a row of garbage bins lined up ready to be picked up and litter on the ground around them. I picked some up on my way past, including a number, dozens, of tickets printed 'Action Events Admit one'. On the back of the ticket in bold print, were the words, YOU ARE HERE AT YOUR OWN RISK. THE ORGANISERS ACCEPT NO RESPOSIBILITY FOR PERSONAL INURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.
Well, well, I thought, nice to see the organisers observing legalities.
I met Merle again and greeted her with the comment, "There's a lot more litter for me to pick up this morning Merle." As I spoke I was pouring coke, from a Coca-Cola bottle I'd picked up, into the garden adjacent to the station.
"Did you come up and watch?"
"No Merle, it's not my scene. I'm trying to get my head around it. I'm going home now to write down my feelings, while it's fresh."
"At least it gets the kids exercising," she came back.

So this is for Merle. It's not my habit to tip a bucket on do gooders like the Rotary Club, especially when 'proceeds are going to provide specialist medical equipment to Monash kids to help change the lives of some very special children', but I'm sticking to my guns.
I looked at the fun run website. Six fun runs, two for children 2 years and under, the other four graduating upwards in age to 9-12 year olds. The website showed scores of children with numbers across their chests running between plastic tape like sheep in a race, excited by a steam engine done up to look like the farcical British TV cartoon character and swooped on by by Puffing Billy for commercial promotion. Every fun run entrant, (entrance fee $15) receives a 'show bag' containing lollies and other 'goodies'.
If we need to do this to get kids exercise then something is terribly wrong. This is training children to behave herdlike. We are at risk of turning into a nation of idiots, that feeds unceasingly on big 'events' and entertainment.
As it said on the ticket, YOU ARE HERE AT YOUR OWN RISK!