March 8, 2009
FIRST LADY MICHELLE PAIGE PATERSON ANNOUNCES KICK-OFF OF “HEALTHY STEPS TO ALBANY: FIRST LADY’S CHALLENGE”
Program to Promote Exercise and Healthy Eating in Middle Schools Begins Monday, March 9
School Without Walls Foundation Academy to Host Rochester Kick-Off
First Lady Michelle Paige Paterson today announced that School Without Walls Foundation Academy will host the Rochester area kick-off of “Healthy Steps to Albany: First Lady’s Challenge” on Monday, March 9. The six-week health and wellness program invites middle school students in Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse, Albany and Yonkers will compete for a nutritious lunch with the Governor and First Lady, a visit to a New York farm and other prizes.
“I challenge Rochester’s middle school students to participate in “Healthy Steps” and try new exercises and wholesome foods,” First Lady Paterson said. “I also want to thank all of the teachers, schools and community organizations who are making the health of our children a priority, and who have joined me in working together to foster healthy eating and exercise habits in New York’s children.”
The launch of the six-week health and wellness challenge will begin at School Without Walls Foundation Academy at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, March 9. Students will view a taped message from Governor David A. Paterson and the First Lady. The students have compiled pamphlets about childhood obesity that they will hand out to students and community members in order to create awareness. Students will start the day with a rally where they will receive information on childhood obesity and t-shirts designed by classmates. The “Step Challenge Without Walls” continues with the students leaving the school to walk the neighborhoods, passing out literature and logging steps. Last month, the First Lady visited School Without Walls Foundation Academy and Pinnacle School No. 35 to introduce students to the program.
“Healthy Steps to Albany: First Lady’s Challenge” is geared toward students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. Participating classrooms represent a team, and student team-members will log their minutes of activity. Students will use the “Healthy Steps” website to convert various exercises into steps and class-teams will track their step progress on a paper map that highlights fun facts about New York State. The teams that log the most steps in each grade and in each district win the challenge. The program concludes on April 17, 2009.
Obesity is a statewide epidemic and 56.7 percent of New York’s adult population has a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25 of more, qualifying as overweight or obese. In Monroe County, 59.3 percent of the adult population has a BMI of 25 or more.
For more information on the First Lady’s initiative, please visit: http://www.healthystepstoalbany.ny.gov.
