Fort Belvoir, Va. (July 17, 2014) - Some 250 students from Fort Belvoir's Markham School Age Center demonstrated their commitment to physical fitness and healthy living by participating in the 2014 Fitness Challenge, Friday, at Specker Field House.
The event, sponsored by Child, Youth and School Services and the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation, provided the young athletes a variety of challenges that tested their fitness levels and provided an opportunity to compete against each other in a friendly atmosphere.
According to Julie Libert, CYSS sports and fitness assistant director, a portion of the event focused on determining the overall fitness levels of the participants.
"We are testing the children to see how fit they are and determine their strength," she said.
The event included four fitness "stations" which included sit-ups, pushups, a shuttle run and a V-sit reach event which measures forward flexibility from a sitting position.
Once again the event was a major success, primarily due to the efforts of volunteers who worked many hours to plan and support the competition.
"As always, Fort Belvoir Community Hospital really came through for us," Libert said. "This year we needed volunteers to go on field trips and all of these people from the hospital volunteered to go and watch the kids. What also helped sponsor this event was the Thrift Store. For all of our events they gave us money to support us -- that's what we bought the refreshments with and they also paid for the certificates that each child receives at the end of the day. The Thrift Store puts so much money back into the community, with scholarships and all the other support; it's wonderful and it helps a lot. Our staff member, Darlene McMillon, also works very hard all year, driving these kids around to all these events."
According to Jerry Arrington, the annual Fitness Challenges' success depends entirely on the work the volunteers put into these events throughout the year. They work for a couple of weeks, getting all the CDCs involved for a real competition, he said.
CYSS youth sports program specialists -- including Rashawd Pope, CYSS youth sports assistant director -- supervised each station and cheered the athletes on throughout the morning. Several Soldiers and Sailors assigned to Fort Belvoir also assisted at the stations as the children enthusiastically competed.
CYSS provided snacks after the athletes completed the final station and each child received a special recognition certificate for his or her hard work during the event.
The CYSS Fitness Challenge is one of many examples of Fort Belvoir and the U. S. Army's effort to promote physical fitness, proper nutrition and active lifestyles from the earliest ages. In addition to the annual challenge, Fort Belvoir hosts the pre-K Olympics, the Armed Forces Kid's Run, the Track-or-Treat run in October and many other events aimed to help children across the installation build athletic skills and a strong sense of sportsmanship while maintaining health and fitness.
For more information regarding CYSS recreational and athletic programs, call Libert at (703) 805-913 or the School Age Center at (703) 805-9100.
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