New York Mets relief pitcher Reed Garrett and Mr. Met helped to inspire kids to stay active and make positive lifestyle choices on Wednesday, May 14, during a special visit to P.S. 60, located at 91-02 88th Ave. in Woodhaven.
The visit was part of the Amazin’ Mets Foundation’s Mets on the Move program, presented by the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), which works to provide kids with fun and engaging ways in which they can learn about how to stay physically fit.
Garrett and Mr. Met joined the students in performing various fitness exercises to help keep them in shape. The kids also competed to see who could perform the most reps during each exercise.
“The kids brought the energy. They had a lot of fun. The competitions were great,” Garrett said. “It was great to head out and spend some time with kids in the community and let them have fun moving their bodies.”
Garrett feels that those who start exercising early in life can find a lot of joy in it. He said this can easily grow into a hobby that many kids can feel passionate about.
“As a dad, every time I get to go outside and just run around and play with my kids, or just do something active with them, it’s something that we enjoy,” Garrett said. “I think it’s important for everybody to do that and move their bodies throughout their life.”
Each of the students who joined in on the exercises with Garrett received a pedometer watch to track their steps throughout the month of May, which marks National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. The more steps they accumulate in the month, the more prizes they can win, including tickets to future Mets games and getting to go on the field at Citi Field. They also received a Mets on the Move sweatband.
“We did multiple activities that involved exercising, and [Mets on the Move] taught us a little bit about fitness and how to keep our bodies healthy. Something that was really special to me and to a lot of students was to meet the famous baseball player Reed Garrett,” P.S. 60 Fifth-grader Haylee said. “The importance for students to exercise is that it will keep their bodies safe and prevent illnesses and sickness in the future. You won’t need to go to the hospital if you keep working out and keep yourself eating good food and keep getting good sleep.”
“What I love most about the Mets on the Move program is you get to work out and extend your health,” Fourth-grader Emanuel said. “You get to live longer, you get healthier and you get stronger.
The Hospital for Special Surgery has put together a digital module to help kids stay healthy and fit, which can be found here.
