Third graders from Iola, Marmaton Valley and Yates Center leaped, sprinted and rolled through an activity packed day at the Kansas Kids’ Fitness Day on Tuesday. More than 170 students traveled to Allen Community College to participate in the annual event. It is a statewide event that focuses on increasing physical activity and safety awareness. Statewide, there were 21,000 students participating.
Jackie Chase, USD 257 nurse, and Vince DeGrado, Allen track coach, organized the big day for the students. ACC students volunteered their time to help with different activity stations.
Chase said the event has been going on for 28 years in Iola.
“I was on the governor’s fitness council in Topeka years ago and when I moved back to Iola I thought we should have the event here,” Chase said.
The event was supposed to be partially outside but rainy weather moved the event into the Allen activity barn and the gymnasium. Students played soccer, ran through obstacle courses and shot hoops. They cheered for their classmates when they completed a task and viewed the stations as fun. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that children and adolescents participate in 60 minutes of moderate physical activity most days of the week, preferably daily.
“This event is to promote fitness and get kids moving,” Chase said. “We teach the kids there is a lot they can do to be active.”
Allen County Regional Hospital donated healthy snacks for the students and Iola Fire/EMS Department was on site in case of an injury.
“Each student will get a baggy of materials to take home,” Chase said.
The fitness day was from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
