Published: October 26, 2009 09:19 am      

Greenlee's Project Fit America equipment presented to the public

School children at Greenlee Elementary filled the gym along with school and local officials on Friday afternoon for the ribbon cutting and unveiling of the Project Fit America equipment. The goal of PFA is to create new opportunities for kids to be active, fit and healthy as part of the everyday school experience.

After being awarded the grand by Mississippi Blue Cross/Blue Shield, the school has received the following:

– State-of-the-art outdoor, above ground fitness equipment. UCLA specifically designed to address all the deficit areas where children fail fitness tests. The equipment becomes the permanent property of the school.

– Indoor Mobile Fitness Equipment. Indoor fitness equipment is mobile as indoor facilities vary from school to school. Some have gyms, other use multipurpose rooms, and so on. Our indoor equipment is comprised of the following: 1,500 Fitness Cups. These are fitness cups for explosive cardio, team work, challenge and cooperation with the kids. These cups are a PFA innovation and not for sale to the general public. A squad set of three pound weighted hoops. They are weighted, multicolored and feel like wetsuit material. Great for sustaining upper body strength training and cardio. Pacer cadence tape. This activity provides outstanding cardio training where kids shuttle run to a "beeped' cadence. As they increase their cardio, the beeps get faster to maintain challenge and increase levels.

– Support Materials. Unlimited certificates and ribbons are provided. Each school receives a starter kit of 25 each and call in for supplies as needed. If they are running programming we will keep them in supplies.

Guest speakers included The Health Club owners Britt and Dawn Barnes, Dr. Ed Bryant of Trace Medical Clinic, former Greenlee and Ethel High School graduate Harold "Junior" Graham, who is the head football coach at Eupora High School, and Attala County Schools Superintendent Larry Stevens.

French Camp Elementary School was also awarded the grant.