Bear Creek Elementary School in Boulder, Colorado was awarded the Fit 4 Colorado School Challenge award of $1000 on Friday, Nov. 14, 2008. Principal Ken Cruger and nearly 400 students were on hand to accept the award.

The Fit 4 Colorado School Challenge award, which recognizes schools that are working to create a healthy atmosphere, was presented by CBS4, KCNC-TV-Denver, America on the Move, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Colorado and HealthONE's Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children.

Bear Creek Elementary School was selected as the winner because the school added a number of wellness activities that students are taking part in and having fun with including before-school intramurals, a before-school jump rope class, an after-school Bolder Boulder training and Girls on the Run, where female students meet twice weekly to talk about having healthy bodies, then practice running and preparing for a 5k. In addition, the school has made significant changes in the school lunch program including offering a "harvest bar," a salad bar that includes some vegetables grown and harvested by students from an on-campus garden.

The Fit 4 Colorado School Challenge is an ongoing program. Nomination forms are available at http://cbs4denver.com/fit4colorado and can be submitted through April 30, 2009. One school is selected each month to receive this recognition award that includes a $1,000 donation towards the program being recognized. Fit 4 Colorado is a statewide initiative that promotes the health and well-being of children and adults and was launched by CBS4 in January 2007. CBS4 airs regular Fit 4 Colorado segments providing viewers with educational information and resources to help change behavior, increase activity and eat healthier. The program is designed to educate and inform the public about the benefits of increased activity and healthier eating, provide tips on how to maintain a healthy weight and be more active and provide resources such as healthy eating tips and easy to use tracking mechanisms to log activity and help reach goals. Fit 4 Colorado is a partnership between CBS4, America on the Move, the Anthem Foundation and HealthONE.

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