Project ACES Celebrates 20 Years of Inspiring Kids to Get Fit

by Ryan Halvorson

Making News:

On May 7, a leading organization seeking to “educate children about the importance of lifelong fitness, and to end the negative stereotype that children are physically unfit,” will celebrate its 20th anniversary. Project ACES (All Children Exercise Simultaneously) was founded by physical education teacher Len Saunders, whose original goal (in 1989) was to encourage at least one school from each of the 50 states to exercise at the same time on a specific day. The program began with 240,000 participants nationwide and has developed into a global phenomenon with millions of children from more than 50 countries expected to participate this year.

At approximately 10:00 am, children will be encouraged to bike, jog, dance or perform some other form of exercise for 15–45 minutes. “The majority of schools will get the entire school population onto a playing field, put on music and have everyone in the school have some fun by moving and exercising together,” according to the organization’s website. And to commemorate the 20th anniversary, Saunders will introduce PACES (Parents and Children Exercise Simultaneously) Day, a weekly event encouraging parents and children to spend at least 15–45 minutes exercising together each Saturday. PACES Day will kick off Saturday, May 10. “Parents need to play an integral role in motivating their children to stay healthy,” said Saunders in a press release. “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 Project ACES, visit www.projectaces.com. For information on PACES Day, visit www.pacesday.com.