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INDIANAPOLIS – On Tuesday, October 21, the Indianapolis Colts kicked off the "PLAY 60 Challenge," presented by McDonald's in partnership with American Heart Association, the Y of Greater Indianapolis and Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center. The event hosted approximately 300 students from Central Indiana schools to celebrate the 2014 PLAY 60 Challenge program launch.

Students had the opportunity to participate in various fitness stations and learn about the PLAY 60 initiative. Colts players WR Griff Whalen, OLB Daniel Adongo, C/G Khaled Holmes, DT Kelcy Quarles, CB Sheldon Price, NT Zach Kerr and WR Ryan Lankford helped with football drills and talked about the importance of physical activity. Colts mascot Blue also made a surprise appearance at the event.

Schools participating in this event included McCordsville Elementary (McCordsville), Brentwood Elementary (Plainfield), Meredith Nicholson Elementary #96 (Indianapolis) and Baxter YMCA (Indianapolis).

As a part of the NFL's PLAY 60 initiative, the PLAY 60 Challenge will run September through November to promote the benefits of a healthy lifestyle by encouraging children and families to have at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day. Participants will track their activities and minutes for a six week period. 

Tuesday's event was a celebration for the launch of the 2014 PLAY 60 Challenge program. Indiana schools have registered to participate in the PLAY 60 Challenge through the American Heart Association. After-school programs associated with The Y of Greater Indianapolis will also participate. Schools and after-school classes who successfully complete the challenge according to program guidelines are competing for an opportunity to win tickets to a Colts home game, a visit from Colts Cheerleaders and a Top School Trophy.

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About PLAY 60

In 2007, the NFL launched a new initiative designed to tackle childhood obesity and encourage today's youth to live healthier lives. Through the PLAY 60 platform, we are asking students across the nation to be active at least 60 minutes each day. NFL PLAY 60 brings together the NFL's long-standing commitment to health and fitness with an impressive roster of partner organizations - Action for Healthy Kids, Ad Council, American Heart Association, National Dairy Council, Nickelodeon, United Way, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In additional to national PSAs and online programs, PLAY 60 will also be implemented locally, as part of the NFL's in-school, after-school and team-based programs. Locally, the Indianapolis Colts are implementing a variety of PLAY 60 programming designed to confront the issue of childhood obesity in Indiana. To learn more about other PLAY 60 programs, visit www.colts.com/PLAY60.