On Wednesday, May 4, the Family YMCA of Greater Augusta will participate in Project ACES at Glenn Hills Elementary (2838 Glenn Hills Dr., Augusta, GA 30906). Project ACES aims to educate children about the importance of lifelong fitness, and to end the negative stereotype that children are physically unfit.

Exercises will begin at 10:00 am and will run until 11:15am. Children will participate in 2-3 segments of 15 minutes of physical activity.

“Project ACES incorporates two of our main areas of focus, youth development and healthy living, so we wanted to participate to stress the importance of exercise and keeping kids active to maintain a healthy lifestyle,” says Danny McConnell, President/CEO of the Family YMCA of Greater Augusta.

Project ACES was founded in 1989 by a New Jersey Physical Education teacher, Len Saunders. Participation has grown tremendously with this nationwide exercise awareness day, from 240,000 students in 1989 to nearly 500,000 students in the state of Michigan alone in 2015! Each May, on a designated date and time, millions of school children all over the globe exercise simultaneously in a symbolic gesture of fitness and unity.

“Exercise is important for everyone of all ages even our kids,” says Tamara Barber, Senior Wellness Director for the Wilson Family YMCA,” By participating in Project ACES, children are creating healthy habits early on in life which is critical to building a healthy lifestyle.”