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Redskins, governor give Woodbridge students gift of fitnessJan 07, 2011 (News & Messenger - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- WOODBRIDGE, Va. -- With Redskins Santana Moss and Chris Cooley leading the way on a huge video screen on one side of the gym, Gov. Bob McDonnell was working up a sweat along with the kids of Fred M. Lynn Middle School. McDonnell came to the Woodbridge school to help present the GlaxoSmithKline donation of a Redskins Youth Fitness Zone to the staff and students, a gift that is part of the National Football League's Play60 campaign. The Republican governor was joined by Washington Redskins linebacker Lorenzo Alexander, recently named the team's 2010 Walter Payton Man of the Year for his community service work, and Tanya Snyder, the wife of Redskins owner Daniel Snyder. "I appreciate this partnership," McDonnell said before working out, "between the Prince William school system, the Washington Redskins, GlaxoSmithKline and so many other leaders to be able to kick off this Redskins fitness zone that is going to inspire kids to focus on the critical issue of young people staying in shape." McDonnell, wearing a maroon-colored Redskins polo shirt, trumpeted the Play60 campaign, which is aimed at encouraging kids to get at least 60 minutes of exercise a day in an effort to combat childhood obesity. The Republican governor wasn't the only political figure showing support of the fitness zone, which included equipment and a video system with more than 200 pre-programmed lesson plans which all meet the National Association for Sports and Physical Education standards. He even kidded with them about who really needed to make use of the new fitness system. "To all the state legislators that are here," McDonnell said, "the members of the school board, the superintendant, members of the board of supervisors and other officials: I'm delighted that you're here and I can't wait to see you all work out in a few minutes. It looks like a some of our officials got into a few Christmas parties. "I can't wait to see all of you down in Richmond later next week," he joked, referring to the beginning of the General Assembly on Jan. 12. "I'm going to work them out a little bit this session, too." McDonnell and the First Lady, Maureen McDonnell -- herself a former Redskinettes, now known as the Redskins Cheerleaders -- support the Commonwealth's Health and Wellness Initiative which encourages preventive healthcare and healthy living through nutrition and physical activity. "I'm happy to be here today because it's so important that we exercise and eat healthily everyday," Alexander said. "Childhood obesity is really growing in our nation today. "I love this program and I do it with my kids at home," the linebacker added, "and it helps me get in shape in the offseason." Not long after the speakers were done, Fred Lynn students demonstrated some of the lesson plans available with the system. And that's when McDonnell -- and other public figures, too -- joined in. "Obviously this program has a lot of support," McDonnell said. "These elected officials here believe that diet and exercise are critically important to the health of our communities." Staff writer Joe Conroy can be reached at 703-530-3912. To see more of the News & Messenger or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.insidenova.com/. Copyright (c) 2011, News & Messenger, Manassas, Va. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. |