Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 24, 1994 TAG: 9404240108
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: D5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MAG POFF STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Michael, 7, a student at Roanoke's Preston Park Elementary School, said he usually practices karate and shoots baskets to keep fit.
He came to the YMCA "to have fun."
"I think it's a good idea," Michael said of the many activities for a building full of children. They ranged in age from 15 months to 14 years.
Lydia Hu, 9, ran the obstacle course because "I wanted to come to play." She is a student at Burlington Elementary.
Lydia keeps fit, too. "I play outside. Sometimes I ride my bike around the block," she said.
Her mother, Ann Hu, thought Healthy Kids Day was a good idea. She takes Lydia and her brother swimming three times a week. "It's better than sitting in front of the television," Hu said. "It's a good way to get to know the community outside the neighborhood."
"We're just going to have fun," said Ali McLearen, 12. She ran the obstacle course and took part in a puppet show learned at the Fishburn Park School Magic Place, an after-school activities program.
Ali's fitness program includes horseback riding, and she plans to join the Y in three weeks for a place to swim this summer. "It's really nice here," said Ali, who is a student at Madison Junior High School.
Ashley Dudding, a student at Fishburn Park School, proudly showed off a fitness test report listing 10 pull-ups, 16 push-ups and a 17-second hang.
Ashley, 9, said she takes fitness very seriously. She is a cheerleader, studies gymnastics and works out every day with push-ups and jumping jacks. She went to the Y Saturday to determine if she was fit.
Chris Zimmerman, 9, who attends Roanoke Valley Christian School, flew through his fitness testing with 20 pull-ups and 30 push-ups. Does that mean he's fit? "Yeah, I guess," said Chris, who takes advanced gymnastics.
Harold Carpenter, fitness director at the Y, said the idea of the special day, now in its second year, is to make children realize you can have fun with exercise.
The children who attended were young for formal fitness programs, Carpenter said, but you're never too young to begin healthy habits.
There are no losers in fitness testing, Carpenter said. Every person has his or her own standard or level of achievement.
More than 2,000 YMCAs nationwide took part Saturday in the program with a theme of "Healthy kids for a healthy planet."
Cal Johnson, executive director of the Roanoke Y, said the program was coordinated by YMCA-USA.
Part of the idea was to get families motivated.
A nutrition information program, for instance, was geared toward parents. But the children helped to shape and dip peanut butter-and-corn flake balls that they can mix themselves.
The day included swimming, aerobics, games and exhibitions of synchronized swimming and diving.
And for the planet, every family who attended took home a pine seedling to plant, courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service.
by CNB