In cancer research commercial

A Umina teenager is featuring in a TV commercial raising money for gastro-intestinal cancer research.

Kamil Ellis, 13, starred in the Gutsy Challenge TV commercial, which aired on Wednesday, August 1, along with five other NSW talents.

The children also each organised special Gutsy Challenge events with their own schools.

As the only national healthy eating program for school students, the Gutsy Challenge encourages students to improve their eating habits by eating four vegetables and two fruits every day for one week.

"In Australia, 1.5 million primary school aged children are either overweight or obese," Gutsy Challenge campaign manager Ms Jacinta Walpole said.

"As these children grow, obesity climbs to over 50 per cent which can lead to ongoing health problems like GI cancers.

"Lifestyle factors, such as a diet low in fibre and high in fat, as well as reduced physical activity, also increases the risk of cancers."

Media Release, 30 Jul 2012

Georgina Hardy, the Gutsy Challenge