Fit Families For Life
Monday, 06.02.2008 / 4:50 PM
/ Community
Tampa Bay Lightning
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Pulling together a dynamic health collaborative, The Tampa Bay Lightning Foundation and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida designed and funded an 18-week course for the sixth grade boys and girls that complemented their fall running program initiated by The Lightning Foundation. The Children’s Board of Hillsborough County also contributed funds towards the course. Kicking off with a student knowledge assessment, students gobbled up both the healthy snacks and the healthy living know-how shared by an incredible group of partner volunteers and staff.
Students:
“This is one of the most impactful extracurricular activities provided to us by the community,” Lincoln Tamayo, Head of School, reports. “Nancy Crane, The Lightning Foundation Executive Director, recruited smart folks that ensure our young people see the connection between healthy choices and a successful life. The course helps us meet our science standards. We are extremely pleased and honored that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida became the major sponsor along with The Lightning Foundation and The Children’s Board. Needless to say, our students are showing staff and their families what they have learned and our younger students are already looking forward to participating next year.”
Students:- Received, along with one family member, running shoes from Feet First with a visit from ThunderBug who provided pedometers.
- Learned about life-long health nutrition and health goal setting from Cindy Coney, Monarch Consulting and JoAnn Loiselle - dietician.
- Discovered amazing facts about bone health and meal planning with MORE HEALTH
- Practiced cutting-edge exercise methods such as ZUMBA with the YMCA, and Nordic Walking with Tim Arem.
- Explored Moffitt Cancer Research Center Research Labs.
- Received a health assessment from Tampa General Hospital.
- Cooked meals for their parents with Let’s Eat! Owner, Susan Andrews.
- Received coaching from one of Tampa’s premiere health curriculum designer, and author, Robin Gonzalez.
- The Central City YMCA played a special role, providing warm-up exercises before each class as well as visits to the Central City YMCA.
Students and families will conclude this incredible course with two additional sessions during Academy Prep’s June coursework. Each child received a memory book from the Fit Families Partnership with healthy snack recipes, their health goals, important know-how from each session filled with action shots as well as individual professional portraits.
Thanks to all the Fit Families Partners for their commitment to ensure Academy Prep students live healthy for life!
