EAST TEXAS (KYTX) -- We begin a new series called "It's Time Texas."
The goal of the statewide initiative is to empower people to create healthy action, collaboration and change in their communities. That change is already happening at Rice Elementary in TISD with a marathon-sized challenge from a P.E. teacher.
CBS19's Dana Hughey shows us how dozens of students and teachers accepted Coach Burgamy's Challenge.
"I just want to say congratulations for finishing the marathon challenge."
Little by little, these Rice rangers ran off 26.2 miles -- not all in one day, not even at school.
"I was looking for something to get the kids moving outside of the school day."
Coach Mike Burgamy challenged the kids and staff at Rice to run, or "fast walk" their marathon in two months. His hope-- that it would become a family fitness event and a step towards making healthy decisions on their own.
"When you're a kid, your parents and teachers make decisions for you," he said. "And one thing I tell the kids a lot it when you are an adult, you don't have those people in your life making you get out and say lets go to the park and play or let's eat a healthy meal."
It was an easy decision for Veronica Campbell. The 5th grader wasted little time finishing the challenge. She was the first one to complete the marathon.
"After school I go to 'Boys and Girls Club' so I would just run around the track," she said. "We would do four laps around the track running then..walk and talk... then we'd go fill out the paper and sign it."
Veronica is one of more than 50 people who completed the challenge. Rice Secretary, Leslie Wood finished it twice.
"When I finished the first go round and took it to coach Burgamy I needed something more," she said. "So I thought, 'I will see if I can do it again in a shorter time span.' And I Did."
The Rice Secretary lost 25 pounds in the process. She along with all of the students who cheered her on at lunch and after school, proudly wear this necklace.
"What makes it so special is that they know what they had to do to get it. They had to make a goal stick with it."
Coach Burgamy hopes the necklace will be a healthy reminder to his students to be active this summer.
One challenge ends and another marathon begins. The students at Rice will all be taking this running log home this summer as a little healthy homework.
They've got until August 27 to finish their 26.2 miles. And if they do, they will also get a token to celebrate their accomplishment.
