Kids at Brookhaven Boys & Girls Club Take on the Guinness World Record for Jumping Jacks

/PRNewswire/ -- Records are made to be broken and a Guinness World Record was likely shattered thanks to the help of kids right here in Atlanta. On March 22, more than 153 members of the Brookhaven Boys & Girls Club joined their peers from more than 1,000 Boys & Girls Clubs across the country to break the Guinness World Record for the most people doing "jumping jacks" – or "star jumps."

As part of National Boys &a Girls Club Week (March 20-26), Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) embarked on this initiative with its Clubs across the country through the organization's Triple Play program. This program, supported by founding sponsor, Coca-Cola, and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia (BCBSGa) Foundation, encourages kids to eat healthier, become more physically active and increase their ability to engage in healthy relationships.

"Living healthy, active lifestyles puts young people on a pathway to a great future," said Missy Dugan, Interim CPO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta. "By jumping their way into history, they proved that you don't need fancy equipment or a gym membership to get active and be healthy. Fitness can start with something as simple as a jumping jack!"

To break the current record, more than 278 kids needed to complete the attempt. While the official verdict will come from Guinness in a couple of weeks, all indications are that the record has been broken.

"The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia Foundation is committed to improving health in our communities and is proud to help bring the Triple Play program to Boys & Girls Clubs throughout the state," said Morgan Kendrick, president, BCBSGa. "By helping our kids learn healthy habits at a young age, we can give them the tools they need to live their healthiest, longest lives possible, and maybe even break some records along the way."

"Coca-Cola is proud to support the Triple Play initiative in partnership with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia Foundation," said Quinton Martin, vice president, community marketing. "Research shows that this program is working – Triple Play is succeeding in getting kids to exercise more, eat a variety of foods and feel good about themselves. We are committed to promoting programs that help children, teens and adults live active, healthy lifestyles."

Nearly one-third of children and teens in the U.S. are obese or overweight, according to multiple studies. Children and adults can avoid these devastating diseases by adopting and maintaining healthy habits early on.

Jumping jacks are called star jumps in some countries, because the arms, legs and head form a five-pointed star. The record is defined as, "the most people star jumping simultaneously at multiple venues for two consecutive minutes," according to Guinness World Records.

-----
Community News You Can Use
Click to read MORE news:
www.GeorgiaFrontPage.com
Twitter: @gafrontpage & @TheGATable @HookedonHistory
www.ArtsAcrossGeorgia.com
Twitter: @artsacrossga, @softnblue, @RimbomboAAG @FayetteFP