CHARLOTTE - Students at seven area middle schools logged an amazing six million minutes of physical activity over four weeks during the Panthers' Play 60 Challenge.
J.N. Fries Middle School in Concord, N.C., and Jay M. Robinson Middle School in Charlotte took top honors with the highest per-student average of activity minutes during the spring competition, a high-energy fitness contest that motivates and educates students about the importance of getting 60 minutes of daily physical activity.
Both schools received a $1,000 fitness grant from Carolina Panthers Charities in recognition of their efforts. As an added bonus, one student from each winning school will help lead the Panthers onto the field for their Dec. 11 game against the Atlanta Falcons at Bank of America Stadium as part of a national NFL Play 60 celebration.
Other participating schools were Bishop Spaugh Community Academy, Cuthbertson Middle School, Mount Mourne School, Randolph Middle School and West Lincoln Middle School. About 4,000 middle school students participated.
"The results from each Play 60 Challenge school were amazing," said Riley Fields, Panthers director of community relations. "Through their participation and engagement in the program, students are creating important lifelong healthy habits."
The program is part of a national partnership between the American Heart Association and the National Football League.
