129,000 Students Registered For The Governor's Fitness Challenge

TALLAHASSEE– Governor Charlie Crist today announced that 129,889 students in 294 schools across Florida have registered to take part in the Governor’s Fitness Challenge, a new program for Florida’s students, aimed at helping them improve their lives through physical fitness. The Governor’s Fitness Challenge will provide guidance and incentives to schools in helping boost physical fitness for children.

“ I am proud of the enthusiasm schools across Florida have shown in taking a step toward better health for our children,” Governor Crist said. “The Governor’s Fitness Challenge will motivate our youth to take an interest in improving their overall health and well-being. I urge all of Florida’s elementary schools to get involved and encourage their students to actively seek a healthier tomorrow. ”

The Governor’s Fitness Challenge will be piloted this year in Florida’s elementary schools and will expand to include middle schools in 2008-09. The challenge is one component of the legislation Governor Crist signed last spring requiring 150 minutes of physical education each week for elementary school students.

Participating students will invest two or three days each week totaling 90 minutes in order to improve in five skill activities related to strength, endurance, flexibility, speed and agility. Final reports are due by May 9. Schools will be able to record student participation on the Web site, and will have the option of tracking student improvement.

At the end of the pilot program in May, four public or private schools with at least 50 percent of students participating will be randomly selected to receive $5,000 toward the purchase of sports or fitness equipment for their schools. Four additional public schools with at least 50 percent participation and who demonstrated improvement in students’ fitness performance areas will be randomly selected to receive $10,000 toward the purchase of sports or fitness equipment.

The fitness equipment and incentives are provided by the SunTrust Bank Foundation.  A portion of the awarded equipment will be selected for students with disabilities at the winning schools.  Additionally, AT&T is developing an interactive website for the fall challenge expansion into Florida middle schools.

At least one participating school with at least 25 percent participation will be entered into a drawing to have a Florida professional athlete or Olympian come to the school to speak with students. Children in winning schools will receive an official Governor’s Fitness Challenge T-shirt, and all students participating will receive Governor’s Fitness Challenge certificates and stickers. Schools with at least 50 percent of students participating will be designated as Governor’s Fitness Champion Schools and will receive a Governor’s Fitness Challenge window decal and flag.

The program has been developed by the Executive Office of Governor Charlie Crist, the Florida Department of Health, Titus Sports Academy and the Governor’s Volunteer Florida Foundation. This fitness challenge is not meant to replace any existing fitness programs, but to provide one more opportunity for Florida’s students to develop healthy living habits. To learn more about the Governor’s Fitness Challenge, please visit www.GovernorsFitnessChallenge.com.