SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Shea Salinas launched the new and improved Get Earthquakes Fit program, presented by Sutter Health, along with 250 children at Millbrook Elementary School in San Jose.
Salinas put the students through their paces, overseeing one of the exercises in the program, which has been updated following the Earthquakes jersey partnership deal with Sutter Health.
Get Earthquakes Fit is a fun, five-week series designed to increase physical activity in the classroom and at home. Following the club’s partnership with Sutter Health, the expertise of the health company’s doctors has been utilized to help improve the program, which is aimed at third and fourth grade children.
“I’m delighted that we have been able to extend Get Earthquakes Fit following our jersey partnership with Sutter Health,” said Salinas, who also stars in the DVD which features in the program. “The kids listened intently, seemed to enjoy our game of kangaroo, cheetah, turtle, and I’m looking forward to seeing how they perform over the next five weeks. Childhood obesity is a real problem in the U.S. and it’s important that we, as soccer players, try and do something about it in our communities.”
The Get Earthquakes Fit program, created in 2009 in collaboration with local teachers and the Santa Clara County Office of Education, requires students to engage in 60 minutes of physical activity each day. Each week a teacher will play a video featuring Earthquakes players and Sutter Health doctors, which is designed to show the students some of the exercises in the program to further engage them by providing a visual aid of the exercises. Then, at the end of the program, an Earthquakes player will make an appearance to congratulate the students on living a more active lifestyle. Students are encouraged to continue playing Get Earthquakes Fit games at home with their families.
To find out more about the Get Earthquakes Fit program, or to nominate your school, please contact Mike Keegan at mkeegan@sjearthquakes.com.
