"It's a simple equation. Healthy eating plus regular exercise equals better learning for our students," WCPSS Superintendent Dr. James Merrill said. "We thank the Carolina Hurricanes for their commitment to encouraging our students to be healthier so that they can prepare for greater success in the classroom and in the future."
The Power Play Program is a 60-minute exercise program, broken into three periods. The periods focus on Strength, Cardio and Free Play. Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin, the team's spokesman for the program, demonstrated each of the Power Play Program's exercises for middle school students in instructional exercise videos, as seen
here
. Students that exercise 60 minutes a day over the month-long program (20 total hours of exercise) will receive complimentary tickets to a Hurricanes game in March or April.
"Youth health and fitness are core values of the Hurricanes Kids 'N Community Foundation," Hurricanes President Don Waddell said. "We are thrilled to team up with the Wake County Public School System to create the Power Play Program and help combat sedentary lifestyle in our state."
Forty-one middle schools and 36,000 students in Wake County will participate in the Power Play Program from January 9 to February 20. The Power Play Program, combined with a healthy diet, may help participants improve cardiorespiratory fitness, build strong bones and muscles, control weight, and reduce the risk later in life of developing serious diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and obesity, which can increase the risk for coronary heart disease, stroke and cancer.
"We've long been committed to encouraging healthy lifestyle choices in the neighborhoods where our employees live and work," Corporate Vice President of Novo Nordisk in Clayton Chad Henry said. "We are proud to support this fun fitness program."
The Hurricanes and the Wake County Public School System would like to thank Ajinomoto and Cengage Learning for their support of the Power Play Program.
