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Alcoa Middle School teachers Mary Beth Warwick and Monique Maples have heard all the latest statistics about the obesity rate among children, and there is nothing positive to report.

Over the last two decades, the number of obese children has tripled in this country. As a result, there are more children with diabetes and these children will grow into adults with even more health concerns.

So two years ago, these two friends and co-workers decided they could try to make a difference in their environment by starting a club whose goals are simple: come when you can and keep moving. The club — called the Alcoa Tornado Trackers — is open to all fifth-, sixth- , seventh- and eighth-graders at AMS. Students are encouraged to attend as many sessions as they can. The group meets from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. each Tuesday and Thursday.

Last Tuesday, 53 middle schoolers showed up to run, walk and learn more about nutrition. They gather at the duck pond beside Alcoa Elementary and then take off along the greenway at Springbrook Park, doing as many laps as they can. Warwick said AMS has a total of about 500 students.

“This represents about 10 percent of our school,” she said. When they started last year, Warwick and Maples said they were hopeful of getting maybe 25 to attend.
School started in July for these kids, and we don’t have to be reminded of how hot it’s been. But these students have remained faithful to the Trackers. Some are athletes who swim or play soccer and basketball and who want to keep their fitness levels high. Others may look at the club as more of a social setting, but that’s OK, Maples and Warwick said.

“Our motto is, ‘’It’s better to do something than to do nothing,’’” Warwick said. “They can’t just come and sit on the bench. We tell them to move at their own pace, but keep moving.”

One child who attends the fitness club has cerebral palsy.

In addition to encouraging children to become active, club leaders also invite parents to participate. Leslie Stevenson, mom of Ally, 10, said she tries to come at least once per week to walk with her daughter. A fifth-grader, Ally is active in swimming and wanted some other activity to do in the off-season.

Breanna Brooks, also a fifth-grader, swims and said she also got started with the Trackers to maintain her fitness level. Her mom comes at least once per week, taking off from work early.

“I came to Trackers to help me train for my sport, swimming,” Brooks said. “But it turns out, its a great running club. I have gotten better and can go longer distances.”

Friends Veda Cruey and Audra Self, both 10, look forward to the twice weekly meetings. They said they get a real sense of accomplishment from walking and running along the greenway in Alcoa.

“It’s just good exercise every time you walk,” Self said.

“And it doesn’t matter how far you go as long as you go,” Cruey added.

Maples gives these students a lesson about proper nutrition each week, often bringing in fruits and vegetables they may not have tried before. She said hopefully when they go to the grocery store with parents, they will choose these foods over the non-healthy ones.

She is also working on a grant that would help supply children with shoes and other gear they might not be able to afford. Some students may not be involved right now because they don’t have those things, she said.

Warwick was a student at Alcoa Middle and had Principal Jim Kirk as a teacher. She said this program works because Kirk and other administrators believe in helping students maintain a healthy lifestyle.

“I have been here all my life,” Warwick said. “We have a family atmosphere and the kids feed off of it.”

Student Hannah Tate was out on this hot afternoon, walking and running her laps. She plays basketball and said the Trackers club keeps her in shape. Her friends have also joined.

“This is what we do,” Warwick said as she and Maples walked and jogged with their students. “It’s a perfect set-up with the greenway and a lot better than a track.”