University of North Carolina Athletics
UNC Student-Athletes Help Get Kids In Action
December 9, 2004 | General
Kristine Lilly, an Olympic gold medalist and UNC alum, and current Carolina student-athletes joined together on Dec. 6 to celebrate with more than 150 third-grade students who participated in a new pilot study designed to help them become more active. This study, part of the Get Kids in Action partnership between the UNC School of Public Health, the UNC Department of Athletics and the Gatorade Company, was intended to help kids get the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity every day. Carolina student-athletes visited elementary school classrooms over a six-week span to help inspire children to make physical activity part of their daily routine.
At UNC's Eddie Smith Fieldhouse, the group of students, teachers and parents in attendance heard remarks from Lilly, UNC sophomore Heather O'Reilly and third-grader Ellen Dubis. Also speaking were UNC Senior Associate Athletic Director John Blanchard, UNC Professor of Nutrition Dr. Dianne Ward, the director of research for Get Kids in Action, and Carol Andrews, the parent of a student who participated in the study.
After the 20-minute program, which included the chance for students to ask questions of Lilly, a former soccer standout at UNC and longtime member of the U.S. National Team, the action began. The students, who attend Hillsborough Elementary and Pathways Elementary, joined Lilly and about 20 current Tar Heel student-athletes on the artificial turf of the fieldhouse for some of the activities they had enjoyed during the last six weeks. The group took part in a mock triathlon, the hokey pokey and other heart-pumping fun before wrapping up an exciting and healthy morning.
Photos by Dan Sears
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