Bengals' Nugent helps kick-off school fitness challenge

CENTERVILLE, Ohio (WDTN) - We're hearing more and more about childhood obesity and the importance of teaching healthy habits to kids at a young age. Which is why Centerville grad and Cincinnati Bengals kicker, Mike Nugent, was more than happy to take some time to kick-off the Primary Village North's Physical Fitness Challenge.

"It was fantastic just seeing their eyes light up, and someone told me that one of the first graders said,' is this a dream or is this really happening? Is Mike Nugent really here,'" was how PVN Principal Mindy Cline described the visit. "So just really exciting to see and have a role model someone they look up to "

Cline asked Nugent to come to the school, where his mother is teacher, .to talk to the kids about physical fitness. Something he says has played an important role throughout his life.
 
"Just to have that constant every single day, it's like my parents had to yank us inside," Nugent said.

Organizers hope Nugent's enthusiasm for exercise will inspire the kindergarten and first graders to follow in his footsteps. Especially important in this a day and age, when childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions.

In 2008, more than one third of children were either overweight or obese, which is why Centerville Schools is focused on fighting fat through healthy lunches and exercise.
 
Today's visit was the kick-off for the school's Fitness Challenge, which happens later this month. Students collect sponsorship money as part of the program, some of which goes back to the school and a portion to a charity helping in the fight against childhood cancer.