Independent Health is teaming with the Buffalo Bills in spreading the message of healthy lifestyles to area students.
The National Football League has its Play 60 program to get kids to spend at least 60 minutes each day exercising.
Buffalo Bills President and C-E-O Russ Brandon says the local program started with just School 18 and now covers every Buffalo public elementary school and 50 other schools across the region.
He says Play 60 is having a real impact, increased by having players talk to the kids. Independent Health President and CEO Doctor Michael Cropp says that personal touch really helps.
"As big as they are, they are in excellent physical condition and they are a group of individuals that kids look up to," Cropp said.
"So, the opportunity to engage these kids by having their idols out there and accessible is part of what we're looking to achieve."
Doctor Cropp says the program isn't just physical fitness since it includes nutrition in a changing society. He says the schools deal with kids coming from countries where the issue is any food, not just healthy food. The Independent Health president says some immigrant kids bring healthy food along with them as their standard diet.
