Enthusiastic Bowie Elementary students helped inaugurate their new state-of-the-art fitness equipment donated by MHCBC during a celebration Wednesday that included Carol Paret, Senior Vice President and Chief Community Health Officer, MHCBC, Katherine Jolivette, Community Program Manager-Exercise Specialist, MHCBC, Dr. Thomas Randle, Superintendent Lamar CISD and Bowie Elementary Principal Belynda Billings and Jessica Risien, Bowie Elementary PE teacher.
The event was highlighted by a ribbon-cutting ceremony, cheerleaders and dance team members from Terry High School, Houston Texans cheerleaders and students demonstrating exercises on the school’s new fitness equipment.
“This is a great partnership between Memorial Hermann, Project Fit America and the Lamar Consolidated School District,” said Paret. “The idea is to get children active and moving. We’re seeing more and more children who are inactive and living sedentary lifestyles. This can lead to obesity and other health issues down the road. As a healthcare provider, we want to address this issue on the front end by encouraging exercise as well as healthy eating and life habits to prevent these children from acquiring chronic illnesses like diabetes, high blood pressure or heart problems as they age.”
The grant funded by the MHCBC provides the PFA program to Bowie Elementary. In addition to the equipment – specifically designed to address the deficit areas where children fail fitness tests – the program includes a dynamic curriculum with games, activities and challenges for kids.