ALBANY, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Empire BlueCross today announced the winners of the Empire Get Active, Get Fit School Challenge. An effort between Empire BlueCross and Radio Disney, the #1 radio network for kids, tweens and families, Get Active, Get Fit is designed to motivate kids and families to achieve fitness together by engaging in fun activities. To successfully complete the challenge, students had to be active for a minimum of 40 of the 55 days during the event, which ran from September 30 through November 23, 2013.
The fourteen schools with the highest percentage of participation in the program won a live dance party at their school hosted by Radio Disney.
St. Regis Mohawk School, Hogansburg |
Holy Family School, Malone |
Abram Lansing Elementary School, Cohoes |
William B. Tecler Elementary School, Amsterdam |
Anna S. Kuhl Elementary School, Port Jervis |
Harrison School, South Glen Falls |
Fort Ann Central School, Fort Ann |
North Warren School, Chestertown |
D.H. Robbins Elementary School, St Johnsville |
Warrensburg Elementary School, Warrensburg |
Hadley-Luzerne Elementary School, Lake Luzerne |
Our Saviors Lutheran School, Albany |
Mother Teresa Academy, Clifton Park |
Lynnwood Elementary, Schenectady |
Five schools that completed the challenge and submitted their results were entered into a drawing for new gym equipment packages valued at $500 through a random drawing. The winning schools for the drawing were:
St. Regis Mohawk School, Hogansburg |
Anna S. Kuhl Elementary School, Port Jervis |
North Warren, Chestertown |
D.H. Robbins Elementary School, St Johnsville |
Warrensburg Elementary School, Warrensburg |
“We’re proud to join with Radio Disney for the fourth consecutive year to promote healthy habits across Upstate New York,” said Ethel Graber, VP and GM, Upstate Sales, Empire BlueCross. “By getting students engaged in daily physical activity, the Get Active, Get Fit School Challenge is working to add a bit of fun into their routines and set them up for a lifetime of exercise and fitness.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 17 percent (or 12.5 million) of children and adolescents aged 2—19 years are obese. Since 1980, obesity prevalence among children and adolescents has nearly tripled.
In 2013, the event’s fourth year in New York, 17,929 students at 50 schools registered for the challenge. Nearly 160,000 students nationwide signed up to participate in this year’s Get Active, Get Fit School Challenge in Colorado, Georgia, New Hampshire, Ohio and Upstate New York.
About Empire BlueCross
Empire BlueCross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association Services provided by Empire HealthChoice HMO, Inc. and/or Empire HealthChoice Assurance, Inc., licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans. Additional information about Empire is available at www.empireblue.com. Additional information about Empire is available at www.empireblue.com. Also, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/healthjoinin, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HealthJoinIn, or visit our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/healthjoinin