DANNA SUE WALKER World Scene Writer
04/22/2005
Tulsa World (Final Home Edition), Page D2 of Social

Students, retirement community take president's fitness challenge

"Get fit and stay fit" is the president's challenge to young and old alike.

Students from Grissom Elementary School, which is the adopted school of the Montereau in Warren Woods retirement community, recently joined their senior friends for a rally to launch the physical activity and fitness awards program.

Memorial High School's award-winning drummers and cheerleaders kicked off the event and 11-year-old Caleb Jackson, president of Grissom's student council, teamed up with 87-year-old Montereau resident Wish Lemons to officially issue the challenge.

Jackson and Lemons said that being active is a part of daily life at both Grissom and Montereau.

For example, Grissom students engage in a variety of sports and they walk and run as members of the 100 Mile Club.

"Gotta keep moving is my motto," said Lemons, who walks or runs 2 to 3 miles a day, six days a week with his wife, Wanda.

Lemons said the seniors at Montereau participate in water aerobics, stretching and toning, walking and workouts in Montereau's fitness center.

Mayor Bill LaFortune noted, "If you get up, get out and stay physically active, you will not only have fun, you will be healthier and live longer."

LaFortune commended Grissom, Montereau and their co-sponsors, Tulsa Public Schools, St. Francis Health Zone and the Wish Lemons Run, for helping to motivate the people of Tulsa to be active and healthy.

Melissa Johnson, a former competitive gymnast who is executive director of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, came from Washington, D.C., to take part in the event.

"We first learned about Melissa through Wish and Wanda Lemons, who have known her since she was 2 years old," said Kelly Vandever, president of Montereau. "Melissa and her family were neighbors of the Lemonses when they lived in Carlsbad, N.M., and Melissa's family attended church where Wish was the minister."

Johnson earned her master's degree in health and fitness management from American University and worked with Arnold Schwarzenegger for several years when she was executive director of the California Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. Schwarzenegger was chairman of the council.

There is an important connection between physical activity and good health, Johnson said. Moderate daily physical activity can substantially reduce the risk of developing or dying from many diseases and certain cancers.

She said that adults need to be active for at least 30 minutes each day, and kids should be active for 60 minutes or more every day.

The President's Challenge helps people of any age make and keep a commitment to regular physical activity. You can set your own goals and choose activities you enjoy. You keep track of your activity and earn rewards by going to the President's Challenge Web site, www.presidentschallenge.org.

To illustrate that their actions were as good as their words, Johnson, the Memorial cheerleaders and all the kids and seniors got up and joined in a kickoff walk around the grand lawn at Montereau.

Vandever introduced John-Kelly Warren, chairman and chief executive officer of Montereau, and thanked Grissom Principal Jean Swanson and student council sponsor Laura Daniel.

Vandever acknowledged Tulsa Public Schools representatives Stephanie Spring, athletic director; Barbara Marshall, physical education and health events coordinator; and Tammy Smith.

Also applauded were Graydon Yohe, executive director of the Health Zone of St. Francis Health System; John McGinnis, Memorial High School principal; Bob Jackson, executive director of Montereau; Cathy Audley, community relations consultant; Karen Ward; Sean Newman; Heidi Weber; Kimberly Gray; Linda Wilborne; Jamie Townsend; Lacy Jack; Susie Graves; Mary Ryser; and Sheryl Jackson.

Among the Montereau residents who attended were wellness and activities committee members, chairman Fred Dimit, Dr. Manny Hinds, Ed Isaacson, Dr. David Schrum, Jack Thisler, Betty Sproull, Norma Woolsey, Bill Perrine, Ann Diggdon and Mary Long.

Carole Lambert, news anchor for KTUL, channel 8, emceed a President's Challenge Rally the following day for 1,000 fourth- and fifth-graders from Tulsa Public Schools at the University of Tulsa's Reynolds Center.

Memorial High School's pom squad greeted children as their buses arrived and joined Memorial's drummers and cheerleaders for an opening performance.

Gymnasts from Lee and Eliot elementary schools and the rope-skipping team from Union's Jarman Elementary School entertained the crowd.

Lambert thanked Terry Hossack and Juanita Brockman with the Reynolds Center for hosting the event.

She introduced Melissa Johnson's parents, Jim and Gwen Johnson, who came from California as guests of Wish and Wanda Lemons. The Johnson family joined the Lemonses and their son and daughter, Mark and Laurie, in the Wish Lemons Run on Saturday.

Herb Tanner and Joyce Grimes, who helped produce the run, also were guests of the Lemonses at the rally.

Take the challenge, and walk or run with it.