Orange County Children Learning That Nutrition and Physical Activity Can Be Rewarding

ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. - Dec. 17, 2015 - PRLog -- The YMCA of Orange County is finishing another season of Earn a Bike, its growing health awareness program targeted at educating underserved elementary school students in proper nutrition and the importance of physical activity.  The most recent group of kids to receive a free, brand new bike courtesy of the YMCA for graduating from the 8-week education program comes from Hidden Hills Elementary in Laguna Niguel; one of three sessions running thus far during the 2015-2016 school year.

Cumulative results from previously completed Earn a Bike sessions have demonstrated the effectiveness of the program.  Average times for kids in the shuttle run and mile decreased by nearly 25% from start date to end date and exercises such as curl-ups, push-ups, and sit-ups had increases of up to 98%.  Another important indicator of success for the program, which aims to lower the rate of childhood obesity and Type 2 Diabetes in the community, is body mass index (BMI), or the measure of body fat based on height and weight.  Participants in the program have decreased their BMI by 3% in just 8 weeks, another testament to the importance of eating right and exercising regularly.

Of course, the program would not have the desired effect of long lasting health and wellness without the on-going participation of both parents and students after the 8-week session is complete.  To help support that effort, parents must also participate in the program by attending two nutrition classes, and the kids who successfully graduate receive a brand new bike, helmet, and lock so they can continue to live an active lifestyle.

Take a closer look at the YMCA Earn a Bike Program:
https://youtu.be/jKtbyXaF9bM



Other sessions still underway are currently being held at Ralph A. Gates Elementary in Lake Forest and Andrew Jackson Elementary in Santa Ana.  The Earn a Bike program would not be able to make an impact in these underserved areas without the support of private grants from organizations like Pacific Life Foundation, Edwards Lifesciences Foundation, The Salah Foundation, Target, and Snyder-Langston.  Additional funding for the program has been generously donated by the community during the YMCA’s Annual Campaign, which will kick off next year on January 28^th, 2016.  This is a time when people can really help the most through their volunteer efforts and fundraising for many of the youth sports and youth development programs that will take place throughout the year in Orange County.

To learn more about the Earn a Bike program, visit
www.ymcaoc.org/earn-bike or check out pictures from the Hidden Hills Elementary graduation on Facebook.

If you would like to make a year-end tax deductible gift to this program, please visit www.ymcaoc.org/donate-today.