May 3, 2005

On Wednesday, May 4, more than 420,000 students, representing more than 980 schools from across the state, will participate in ACES: All Children Exercising Simultaneously. At 10:00 a.m. sharp, these students will be out of their seats and onto their playgrounds or in their gymnasiums experiencing the joy of exercise by walking, skipping, hopping, dancing or other physical activity options. ACES With-a-friend is a program of the Michigan Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Sports, sponsored by Farm Bureau Insurance. ACES is celebrated internationally with millions of worldwide participants.

“This event celebrates the importance of physical activity,” said Marilyn Lieber, President and CEO of the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness. “Michigan’s physical educators do a great job and with the help of Farm Bureau Insurance, we are happy to provide this physical activity rallying point during National Fitness Month.”

Lansing will be experiencing ACES in a number of ways. All Lansing Public Schools are participating in ACES With-a-Friend. The “With-a-Friend” designation encourages parents, siblings, grandparents, friends and others to join in the fun. In addition, a celebration will be held on the Capitol Steps. Representative Michael Sak, who initiated ACES in Michigan in 1997 as Chair of Fitness West Michigan, is hosting a local celebration on the Capitol Steps with 1000 Lansing school children.

Dignitaries such as the Honorary Co-Chairs of ACES, Dr. Kimberlydawn Wisdom, the Nation’s 1st State Surgeon General, and Associated Press Coach of the Year Joanne P. McCallie of Michigan State University’s Women’s Basketball, will make brief statements followed by a group exercising session with leadership from the Lansing YMCA.