Birmingham Iron To Expand ‘Iron Kids Program’ Presented By Brookwood Baptist Health To Talladega City Schools

Program promotes physical fitness, healthier lifestyle among area youth

The Alliance of American Football’s Birmingham Iron today announced the expansion of its ‘Iron Kids Program’ - presented by Brookwood Baptist Health and co-sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama - to include Talladega City Schools. The goal of the program is to generate awareness and take action toward the growing concern of sedentary lifestyle and childhood obesity in Alabama.

"As a professional sports team, it is imperative that our players are in peak physical condition in order to perform their best on game day,” said Tom Ward, Iron President. “We also feel an obligation as a good, corporate citizen to have our players (and team) serve as role models by sharing our training experience. Our goal is to help the youth in our community get physically active and promote healthy lifestyles.”

The program challenges students to complete 20 hours of physical activity during the month of February. Students will be allowed to participate during and after school in the 60-minute exercise segments, which have been broken down into multiple cardio and strength training exercises through a series of videos available online and featuring Trent Richardson, Iron running back and spokesman for the program. As an incentive for completing 20 hours of fitness activity during the month of February, students will be rewarded with two free tickets to an Iron home game in March.

“We are extremely proud to serve as the presenting sponsor of the ‘Iron Kids’ program and help promote a healthier, more active lifestyle among our area youth,” stated Frank Thomas, Chief Executive Officer, Citizens Baptist Medical Center, a member of the Brookwood Baptist Health System. “Our hospital has a longstanding reputation as a partner in the community and the expansion of the Iron Kids program reaffirms that commitment.”

According to Gloria Thomas, Director of Student Services for Talladega City Schools, “We are excited to incorporate the Iron Kids program into our current physical education curriculum and anticipate positive results.”

To promote enthusiasm for the Iron’s inaugural season, the Birmingham Iron provided one ticket for every student in the school system to the opening game, and Brookwood Baptist Health has agreed to match this outpouring of support by adding one companion ticket for a parent or guardian.