by Dave Delgado

Guam - Students at Machanaonao Elementary School gathered for a day of physical activity and friendly competition between classes with the help of Donna and Jude Baker from the "Strides for A Cure" campaign. The students competed in several sports activities in what was called "The Kids Ko'ko Olympics". Strides for A Cure sponsored the event and donated the t-shirts, prizes and some of the equipment used at the games.

Machanaonao Elementary Principle Rob Malay said of today's event, "This whole concept actually started in partnership with the folks who operated the Strides For A Cure Race. They decided they were going to try and promote healthy life styles and they asked if we would be interested in having a field day competition with our students here at Machanaonao, which we fully endorse here.

"We look at the whole child not just the academics and the book smarts but we look at the physical activity and we try and promote as much as we can with our students here at the school. Other events that we we've done today and are doing are capture the flag, obstacle course, relay races, softball throw, kicking for distance competition, hula hoop competition, jump rope along with a rocket toss event. The last event we did was a Frisbee throw through a hula-hoop that was suspended in the air.

"So overall the spirit has been very high and the kids have been really enthusiastic and the teachers have been super supportive and it's just been a wonderful day to promote physical activity and healthy lifestyle. This is actually the kids for the cure, the koko Olympics the first here at Machanaonao Elementary School and we look forward to expanding it next year to our lower grade levels and kinder, first and second."