Orioles bring back Health & Fitness Challenge to Sarasota County middle schools

Despite the recent gloomy weather, it's almost time to get out in the sunshine and get active. Actually, it's always a good idea to get out, be active and eat healthy, a message the Orioles are once again bringing to Sarasota County middle schools.

For the second year, the Orioles and Sarasota County Schools are teaming up to encourage physical fitness, healthy eating and tobacco-free living among middle school-aged children through the Orioles Health & Fitness Challenge. Launched last year in partnership with HealthFit Powered by Sarasota Memorial and SWAT (Students Working Against Tobacco), the program will expand in 2017 to include a greater focus on both nutrition and tobacco-free living, as well as more involvement from Orioles players, coaches and alumni. The curriculum also will expand to Oak Park School, where faculty will adapt the curriculum for students with special needs.

"As we continue to enhance the Orioles Health & Fitness Challenge, we've drawn upon the wisdom of medical experts to deepen the program's focus on nutrition," said MASN president and Orioles executive vice president John Angelos. "The curriculum encourages students to eat whole, non-processed foods that are not manufactured to include added sugar and other unhealthful ingredients, which is the single best decision kids can make to improve their overall health. Eating and living like your favorite Orioles means avoiding addictive foods and habit-forming substances that counteract exercise and ultimately undermine an otherwise healthy lifestyle."

Beginning today, Jan. 23, the five-week Orioles Health & Fitness Challenge will be offered in 10 county schools for approximately 4,000 students in grades six through eight. Students will participate in a variety of health and fitness challenges, including exercises to build endurance, strength, flexibility, speed and balance. The schools' physical education teachers will present the challenge curriculum during regular school hours.

"The Sarasota County School District is pleased to collaborate with the Orioles for the second year in a row on the Health & Fitness Challenge," said Karen Rose, executive director Sarasota Middle Schools. "Health and physical fitness are important factors in students' abilities to do their best academically, and this program helps get them moving, excited and motivated. In addition to our middle schools, we're delighted that Oak Park School will participate in the program this year."

To enhance the program, this year's challenge will include a stronger emphasis on eating healthy and avoiding tobacco. Each week, students will learn a recipe, provided by HealthFit, for a nutritious snack they can make at home with their families. Also weekly, the students will watch an informational video from SWAT about the dangers of tobacco.

"It's important for kids to eat a healthy, balanced diet because it supports the body's rapid growth, and tissue development, while promoting good food habits throughout their lifetime," said Gudrun Novak, RD, LDN, CDE of the Sarasota Memorial Health Care System.

Orioles vice president-sarasota David Rovine, pitcher Mychal Givens, bench coach John Russell and former Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts were on hand Monday at Laurel Nokomis School to launch this year's program. Several additional Orioles players, coaches, and alumni will participate in the program this season, including manager Buck Showalter; Hall of Famer, Orioles Legend and MASN broadcaster Jim Palmer; vice president of baseball operations Brady Anderson; and pitchers Brad Brach, Tyler Wilson and Mike Wright.

Laurel Nokomis principal Raymond Wilson thinks having professional athletes help preach a healthy lifestyle really motivates the kids.

"If we can connect students to someone that they see or revere as role models," said Wilson, "someone that they could actually look up to, someone that's doing something fun for something that they might revere as just a rear-mirror, 50-minute P.E. class, I think it's good that the students are connecting how important fitness is beyond just the 50-minute P.E. class. And that they're actually really seeing it as a lifestyle and then to connect it with the professional athletes, they could see it also as a profession as well, too.

For Sarasota resident Roberts, having the Orioles be active in his home community is super special.

"I think it's great," Roberts said. "I do live here full-time with my family. We love it. I have two kids, two young kids, that I want to keep active, for sure, the rest of their lives as well. And so being a part of this community on a full-time basis, it brings it home even more for myself for sure. And the Orioles being this active in the community is great for everybody. So I wanted to be a part of it living here full-time and being an ex-Oriole certainly. I think it was just a perfect match."

Brach and Wright jumped at the chance to rejoin the Health & Fitness Challenge for the second year in a row.

"I was able to visit with the children last year and participate in the challenge," said Brach, "so I understand firsthand how the incentives we provide can serve as great motivation. The kids were excited to meet us and perhaps even more excited to attend a game and get a healthy snack at the ballpark. We're making fitness and nutrition fun, which is the best way to generate enthusiasm and develop an impactful program."

"I participated in the challenge last year and I was eager to get involved again this season, especially with theprogram's enhanced focus on nutrition," Wright said. "Personally, I enjoy eating healthy not only because it makes me feel great, but because it gives me more energy to bring my very best effort to the mound. Children aren't always exposed to the benefits of healthy eating, for a variety of reasons beyond their control. In this program, we not only inform them about nutrition, but also reward them for making smart, healthy choices."

Throughout the challenge, participating students earn Orioles-themed prizes and two free tickets to the Birds' spring training game on Feb. 26. Participants also receive vouchers for complimentary concessions at the "Orioles Fit!" healthy-food stand at Ed Smith Stadium. For more information about the Challenge, visit www.orioles.com/oriolesfit.

Students and parents are encouraged to share their experience on social media using #OriolesFit.

The Orioles Health & Fitness Challenge is part of Sarasota 365, a host of initiatives through which the Baltimore Orioles and OriolesREACH demonstrate the ballclub's year-round engagement with the Greater Sarasota community. Whether hosting youth activities, participating in charitable causes or partnering in efforts to boost the local economy, the Orioles are active in the region all year long, proving that their commitment to the club's southern home goes far beyond baseball. For more information about the Orioles' activities in Sarasota County, visit orioles.com/Sarasota.