It is no mystery that the childhood obesity epidemic is a growing concern throughout the world. Although many school physical education programs are doing an excellent job at teaching children lifetime skills for staying healthy, many children and families are not taking time to put these skills into action.
May 7, 2008 will mark the 20th anniversary of Project ACES (All Children Exercise Simultaneously). Millions of children from all 50 states and 50 countries are going to exercise simultaneously to promote healthier lifestyles for children.
The program started in 1989 by physical education teacher, Len Saunders. Little did he know the program would last for 20 years and reach the magnitude it has today. Presidents, governors and many credible organizations throughout the world have supported the program. Please visit the Project ACES website at www.projectaces.com.
In celebration of its 20th anniversary, Saunders is now introducing PACES Day (Parents And Children Exercise Simultaneously). PACES is about taking a break each Saturday to exercise as a family. PACES, which asks parents to exercise with their children for 15-45 minutes each Saturday. The program will be highlighted by the first annual national PACES DAY on Saturday, May 10, 2008, with hundreds of thousands of kids and their parents exercising together for a better life.
"Parents need to play an integral role in motivating their children to stay healthy", said Saunders. "From deciding what foods to feed them to stressing the importance of exercise, the impact will play a major role in a child's current and future physical health. PACES Day offers parents a wonderful vehicle to act as a role model and participate in their child's well-being."
To learn more about PACES Day, read family exercise suggestions, and to download free fitness material, visit the PACES Day website at www.pacesday.com. Anyone can sign their family up on the PACES Day website to be recognized with other families around the world. This also serves as a motivational tool as the children enjoy seeing their family name on the website.
Len Saunders has been recognized as an innovator in the field of children's fitness for over 20 years. He has won awards for his dedication and hard work at the local, state and national levels. For more information, please visit www.lensaunders.com.
