From WXVT 15 Local News

Greenville School Gets Project Fit America Gear
Posted: Nov 9, 2009 03:37 PM

A new program was launched Monday to help fight childhood obesity.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at Webb Elementary School in Greenville for some new workout equipment, paid for by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Mississippi, which has sponsored Project Fit America sites throughout the state.

Before the ceremony, several public officials and others addressed the students and guests. Among the speakers were Greenville Mayor Heather Hudson; Metcalfe Mayor Corey Holmes, a former pro football player; Rep. John Hines; Dr. Leeson Taylor, deputy superintendent of the Greenville Public School District; Philip Doiron, CEO of the YMCA in Greenville; and Errick Simmons, a Greenville City Council member and president of the Webb PTA.

Simmons says the grant is a great thing for the school and the community, and that the workout center, located behind the school, is available for public use.

Delmar Sprouse, coach and physical education instructor at Webb, says fitness is more than about running around or playing basketball. Those who go through all seven stations will have a full-body workout.

The stations are a climbing exercise, a bar for practicing tumbles, a pull-up (chin-up) bar, a sit-up station, an overhead hand ladder (monkey bar), parallel bars and stepping blocks.

Entertainment was provided by the Greenville-Weston High School Hornet mascot, and the Coleman Middle School marching band.
Of more than 100,000 schools that applied for Project Fit America grants, only 700 have been awarded. Webb and Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School in Greenville are in the program.

Project Fit America is a national charity that's been active since 1990.