Run, walk, jump and play 60 minutes every day!
That’s the mantra of more than 180,000 elementary school students in San Antonio as the San Antonio Sports 2013 Valero Go!Kids Challenge gets underway.
The goal of the eight-week program, which takes place Feb. 20 through April 21, is to educate children about the importance of routine exercise and proper nutrition and help in the fight against childhood obesity.
This is the 10th anniversary of the program which has grown to include schools in Bexar, Comal and Kendall County, as well as private and charter schools. Participants keep track of their activity in special journals or through the interactive website, gokidschallenge.com.
The Valero Go!Kids Challenge™ encourages elementary students to be physically active at least 60 minutes a day, six days a week.
All Go!Kids will receive a wristband with a designated UPC code that allows them to receive a free bottle of Fresh Choices water any time they visit a participating Valero Corner Store.
“We want to encourage kids to have healthy, active lives,” says Russ Bookbinder, President & CEO of San Antonio Sports. “Our goal is to provide an incentive for kids to make exercise a daily habit and hope that that they will drink more water, making it their first choice.”
San Antonio Sports’ Valero Go!Kids ChallengeÔ kicks off on Wednesday, Feb. 20 in elementary school physical education classes. A kickoff press conference will be held at 10 a.m. at Cambridge Elementary School,1001 Townsend, in Alamo Heights ISD.
Former three-time WNBA All Star Marie Ferdinand, Alamo Heights ISD Superintendent Dr. Kevin Brown and other special guests will be part of the kickoff, along with 800 students.
They will be active to the same rhythm and beat, with help from the Alamo Heights High School drum line. The students will be demonstrating different ways to exercise using their brains, their bodies, and with equipment. Imagine the entire fifth and third grades using basketballs in rhythm, fourth graders in rhythm with cup stacks, and first and second graders using their bodies.
On Sunday, April 21, the Valero Go!Kids ChallengeÔ culminates with a special field day at the Alamodome. Participants will receive sling backs for achieving their goals and enjoy games and giveaways for the entire family.
“San Antonio Sports’ mission is to transform our community through sports,” says Bookbinder. “Having the Valero Go!Kids Challenge available to schools in and around San Antonio--and online –allows us to reach children, their parents, teachers, school administrators and community leaders and have them join us in the fight against childhood obesity. We all know starting good habits early in life is the key to healthy adults.”
“As a parent and an athlete, I embrace the opportunity to be a part of any program that will allow me to help educate our youth about the importance of healthy eating and fitness ,” says Marie Ferdinand. “The Valero Go!Kids Challenge allows me to do that.”
For more information about the Valero Go!Kids ChallengeÔ or San Antonio Sports, contact Carolyn Wheat at 210-820-2119 or cwheat@sanantoniosports.org.
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