News: Loudoun Students Help Redskins Set World Record

Special to VivaLoudoun via Loudoun County Public Schools
(Sept. 29, 2010) - More than 100 Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) students were part of a virtual world record on Tuesday, September 15th, at FedEx Field.


The Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation staged the Largest Virtual Exercise Lesson for 646 students from the Washington Metropolitan Area on the playing surface of the 92,000-seat stadium. Quarterback Donovan McNabb, the team’s health ambassador, led the students in exercise routines that were broadcast on the 130-foot-by-100-foot jumbotron over the west end zone.

Helping him inspire the students were Redskins linebackers Rocky McIntosh and Lorenzo Alexander, defensive end Kedric Golston and cornerback DeAngelo Hall.

The 30-minute workout went well beyond jumping jacks and sit-ups. The virtual workout began with Redskins such as Santana Moss, London Fletcher, Andre Carter, Chris Cooley and Anthony Armstrong leading the students (virtually speaking) in warm-up routines. The students were then led through sessions in shadow boxing, yoga and stretching.

The workout was held under guidelines established by the Guinness Book of World Records for inclusion on the Guinness World Records website, www.guinnessworldrecords.com. These guidelines stated that the physical activity had to go beyond that contained in a standard exercise video. This workout definitely filled that bill as students danced, bobbed, weaved and stretched on the turf upon which NFL players regularly perform.

At the workouts conclusion, official Guinness World Records Adjudicator Mike Janela certified the students had broken the former record of 605 participants to a loud round of cheers.
More important than breaking the record was learning about the importance of exercise in battling child obesity. The virtual exercise session was part of the NFL’s Play 60 initiative to make children more physically active.

Students from Sterling Middle School and Guilford, Potowmack and Steuart W. Weller elementary schools took part in the virtual workout. They received a cool T-shirt, a good workout and a lot of fond memories for their effort.

Tuesday marked the second time in September that the Redskins teamed up with LCPS for a major event.

On Friday, September 10th, Redskins owner Dan Snyder spoke to a pep rally at Heritage High School as part of the NFL’s Back to Football Friday. The team passed out hundreds of “Beat Dallas” T-shirts for the event.