Students at Gulf Trace Elementary School got a surprise Wednesday morning when Bucs player Cameron Brate showed up to reward their commitment to daily fitness in the Morning Mile Program.
- Bucs player surprises students during Morning Mile Program
- Students at Gulf Trace Elementary run every morning before school
- Cameron Brate surprised students to reward their commitment to health, fitness
The students are currently running every morning before school as part of the Morning Mile Program, created by Fitz Koehler, Fitzness International, LLC.
Florida Hospital West Florida Division sponsors 20 local schools in the program in Highlands, Hardee, Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties.
Students at each school walk or run every morning before school, and for every five miles, the children receive a motivational charm and are encouraged to aim to be part of the "100 Mile Club."
“We want the people in our communities to achieve their maximum health and wellness, “said Mike Schultz, President and CEO, Florida Hospital West Florida Division, “and partnerships like this one with the American Diabetes Association and the Morning Mile program are just one way we can reach out to encourage healthy living even at a young age. These students should be celebrated for their commitment to good health.”
Fifty to sixty students are signed up for the program at Gulf Trace Elementary, and they have run over 2,000 miles since September.
Florida Hospital and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers rewarded the students' dedication with a rally before school on Wednesday. Buccaneers Starting Tight End Cameron Brate, along with the team mascot, Captain Fear, rallied around the commitment of the students and the school to health and nutrition.