Students at Main Street Elementary School in Shelbyville have been challenged to run or walk 5,500 miles and they are eager to get started in hopes of receiving a rock wall to add to their gym.
Shelbyville PE teacher Greg Harkin and ‘Sasha,’ one of Sarah Bush Lincoln’s Healthy Heroes, announced the challenge during a special assembly at the school on Wednesday. This challenge is part of Sarah Bush Lincoln’s Healthy Kids Education program and is designed to motivate kids to keep active and develop healthy habits. It is funded through a $4,500 grant from WomenConnected, a giving circle within the SBL Health Foundation.
Students from first to third grade will begin logging the miles they walk or jog through April. Each first-grader has a personal goal of walking or jogging four miles each month, second grader have a goal of logging five miles each month, and third-grader are asked to log six miles each month. Students are also rewarded with prizes for reaching various milestones and students logging the most miles earn a spot on a ‘Wall of Fame’ poster and will be amongst the first to climb the rock wall.
“Our students and staff are so excited to begin our challenge,” Harkins said. “We are eager to work together using fitness to reach a common goal and we are thankful to partner with Sarah Bush Lincoln for the Healthy Hero Challenge.”
If the students reach their goal of 5,500 miles by the end of April they will receive a traverse rock wall to add to their gymnasium. Elementary schools in Neoga, Arcola and Oakland have also participated in this challenge and received a rock wall in past years.
“This will be an exciting challenge for the students to reach their personal goal each month and work toward a collective goal that will benefit so many for years to come,” Laura Bollan, Sarah Bush Lincoln Healthy Communities director, said.
For more information about Sarah Bush Lincoln’s Healthy Kids Education program, call Healthy Communities at 217-345-6828.