Orchard Park, NY– The Buffalo Bills announced that they have partnered with BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York and the American Heart Association to kickoff their seventh annual Play 60 Challenge for youth on Tuesday, September 27, 2011.
The Play 60 Challenge kickoff event will be held at Kleinhans Music Hall in front of approximately 2,500 students and 15 Buffalo Bills players including linebacker Arthur Moats, offensive lineman Mike Jasper, safety Jairus Byrd, fullback Corey McIntyre, defensive end Alex Carrington, safety Bryan Scott, safety George Wilson, tight end Scott Chandler, linebacker Danny Batten, quarterback and special teamer Brad Smith, wide receiver Naaman Roosevelt, tight end Mike Caussin, defensive tackle Marcell Dareus, cornerback Aaron Williams and linebacker Nick Barnett.
Participating* *Buffalo Public Schools including Hillery Park Elementary # 27, Frederick Law Olmstead #'s 56 & 64, Discovery School # 67, Southside Elementary School # 93, Dr. Lydia T. Wright School of Excellence # 89, City Honors # 195, Bennett Park Montessori # 32, Math, Science, and Technology School @ Seneca # 197 and International Preparatory School at Grover # 198. The Buffalo Bills, BlueCross BlueShield and the American Heart Association also invited Ellicott Elementary School, Eggert Road Elementary School and the Stanley G. Falk School to participate in the Play 60 Challenge kickoff event.
These targeted schools' 3rd – 6th grade students and teachers will participate in a Play 60 health and fitness Challenge over a four-week period starting on October 3rd. The classrooms will receive Play 60 Challenge kits that include teacher's resource guides, student activity tracking sheets, Buffalo Bills Play 60 trading cards and certificates of achievement for students. All of the classrooms that participate in the Play 60 Challenge will have a chance to be invited to an interactive health and fitness party at the Buffalo Bills Healthy Zone Fieldhouse in December and will also have a chance to receive tickets for the Buffalo Bills vs. Tennessee Titans home game on December 4, 2011. On December 4th randomly selected students and teachers from the schools above will be recognized on the Ralph Wilson Stadium field for pre-game ceremonies as a part of the national NFL Play 60 initiative.
At the Play 60 Challenge kickoff event, Dennis George will perform a health-themed quiz show for the students and Bills players will speak to the students in a pep rally style of event to get the kids excited about physical fitness and healthy living.
The Play 60 campaign was created in response to the national decline of physical education programs and lack of physical activity for today's youth. This national youth movement and awareness campaign is designed to promote physical fitness and healthy living to an increasingly inactive generation of children. Kids are encouraged to get 60 minutes of physical activity everyday (30 minutes in school and 30 minutes outside of school). For more information on the Play 60 program, please visit www.nflrush.com.
Childhood obesity rates are at an all-time high: today nearly 1 in 3 kids and teens in the United States are obese or overweight. Physical activity produces overall physical, psychological and social benefits, and that inactive children are likely to become inactive adults. That's why the National Football League and the American Heart Association have teamed up to create the NFL Play 60 Challenge*, * a program that inspires kids to get the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity a day in school and at home. It also helps schools become places that encourage physically active lifestyles year-round.
*BlueCross BlueShield of Western New Yorkis one of New York's leading health care companies that provides access to quality health care and innovative solutions for members throughout New York state. Located in Buffalo, NY, the company is an independent Licensee of the BlueCross BlueShield Association.*
Founded in 1924, the American Heart Association is the nation's oldest and largest voluntary health organization dedicated to building healthier lives, free of heart disease and stroke. To help prevent, treat and defeat these diseases — America's No. 1 and No. 3 killers — they fund cutting-edge research, conduct lifesaving public and professional educational programs, and advocate to protect public health. To learn more or join in helping all Americans, call 1-800-AHA-USA1 or visit americanheart.org.
