SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The MEA Benefits Trust and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Maine announced today that three schools across the state are among national winners in Radio Disney’s Get Active, Get Fit School Challenge. Get Active, Get Fit, developed by Anthem and Radio Disney, is designed to motivate elementary school-aged kids and their families to achieve fitness together by engaging in fun activities. In order to successfully complete the challenge, students had to be active for a minimum of 40 of the 55 days during the program, which ran from October 1st through November 24th.
Eagle Lake Elementary School, Hartland Consolidated School and Searsport Elementary School have won dance parties and gym equipment for having the highest percentage of student participation. In addition, St. Albans Consolidated School, Etna-Dixmont School and Hilltop Elementary School have won gym equipment through a random drawing of participating schools that completed the program.
“We salute and congratulate all of the schools and students who took part in the challenge,” said Dan Corcoran, president and general manager, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Maine. “When children engage in good habits early on, they are building the foundation for a healthy adulthood.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 17 percent (or 12.5 million) of children and adolescents aged 2—19 years are obese. Since 1980, obesity prevalence among children and adolescents has nearly tripled.
“Partnering with Anthem on this initiative is part of the Trust’s commitment to a culture of health and wellness within Maine’s schools,” said Christine Burke, executive director of the MEA Benefits Trust. “The level of enthusiasm among teachers and students at participating schools across the state has also been very gratifying.”
More than 12,000 students from 59 elementary schools across Maine participated in the challenge. In all, 384,000 students from Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, New Hampshire, Ohio, Upstate New York, Virginia and Wisconsin took part.
About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Maine
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Anthem Health Plans of Maine, Inc., an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ®ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Additional information about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Maine is available at www.anthem.com. Also, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/healthjoinin, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HealthJoinIn, or visit our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/healthjoinin.
About Radio Disney
Radio Disney is the #1, 24-hour radio network devoted to kids, tweens and families. Kids help pick the music that is played and are encouraged to interact via a toll-free phone line to the Radio Disney studio. The network's current playlist, driven by listener requests and representing major record labels, includes recording artists Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, One Direction, Katy Perry, Cody Simpson, Carly Rae Jepsen and Cher Lloyd. The network is available on 31 owned terrestrial radio stations and is also available via RadioDisney.com, Sirius XM satellite radio on channel 79, iTunes Radio Tuner, mobile phones, the Radio Disney iPhone and Android Apps, and the Radio Disney Facebook page.