Across the country, about one in three kids are overweight. Its staggering statistic and one that the Cleveland Browns and American Heart Association have teamed up to combat through the Play 60 Challenge. The Play 60 Challenge kicked off this spring with schools competing for prizes including funds for PE equipment and an xbox Kinect. Schools are asked to log their active minutes during a 4-week period and compete with other local schools for a higher average number of minutes per student. This spring, 13 schools successfully completed the Challenge by logging almost 4.5 million minutes of activity during the Spring Play 60 Challenge.
Top school, Ridge Middle School, in Mentor, Ohio claimed first place and received an xbox Kinect, $500 toward the PE department and a visit from Chomps, the Cleveland Browns mascot, at their "Class of Classes" teachers vs. students assembly. Chomps was on-hand to cheer on the kids as they competed in a variety of physical events. The second place school, Central Middle School, in Euclid, Ohio, will also receive an xbox Kinect along with a gift certificate to a PE equipment supplier.
John Yuha, PE teacher for second place school, Central Middle School, has won the Challenge before and said, "The Play 60 program has helped my school to communicate better with our students the importance of being physically active. The students have also enjoyed the Play 60 program and look forward every year to start. Students and teachers have participated in the Play 60 program and enjoyed working together as a team to accomplish goals that each class sets for each other."
Participating schools receive a banner to hang in their gym, materials to use throughout the Challenge and top classes and schools receive extra prizes and gift certificates for their participation. The Play 60 Challenge is in its ninth year and will continue during the 2014-2015 school year. Schools in the Cleveland-area with students between second and ninth grades are eligible to participate.
To enroll your school, call 216.619-5133 or email meryl.closs@heart.org.
ABOUT BROWNS PLAY 60:
The Browns PLAY 60 movement, contributing to the NFL's nationwide initiative to promote youth health and wellness by getting active at least 60 minutes each day, is in association with University Hospitals; Medical Mutual; and American Dairy Association Mideast and Fuel Up to PLAY 60. The Browns actively bring PLAY 60 to the local community throughout the year to ensure kids and families are learning about and taking steps toward a healthy lifestyle.
