The Tyson Fitness Challenge is an eight-session fitness initiative with two goals: helping today’s
kids get more physically fit and raising money through Children’s Miracle Network to help kids
who are fighting illnesses. The program encourages physical fitness through fun activities that
emphasize four fundamentals of fitness: cardiovascular exercise, strength training, flexibility
and nutrition.
The Tyson Fitness Challenge is not about teaching gymnastics skills; it uses gymnastics to help
kids build healthy foundations for the rest of their lives. The program is aimed at children 6-16
years old. The 2008 edition again includes a developmentally appropriate program for children
ages 4-5 and will be available online. The 2008 Tyson Fitness Challenge has been refreshed by
adding new content to the existing items favored by gym club owners. Some of the items that are
new to the Tyson Fitness Challenge this year include:
• an extra month for clubs to hold the Tyson Fitness Challenge
• new, more fun cardiovascular games, and updated and more challenging exercises for the upper body, core and lower body.
USA Gymnastics first began raising funds for Children’s Miracle Network in 2001 as part of
National Gymnastics Day. The Tyson Fitness Challenge became the platform to raise funds in
2006. Clubs have the flexibility to hold the Tyson Fitness Challenge at any time between March 1
and Sept. 13, which is National Gymnastics Day in 2008.
Since partnering in 2001, USA Gymnastics and its gym clubs across the country have raised
more than $834,000 for Children’s Miracle Network through a variety of activities, and USA
Gymnastics’ goal is to increase that total to $1 million by the end of 2008. During the first two
years of the Tyson Fitness Challenge, more than 36,000 kids participated and raised $323,000 for
Children’s Miracle Network in 2006-07.
To raise funds for Children’s Miracle Network, participants and clubs obtain pledges for
achieving a set number of elements in a specified time, whether it is fitness-related skills,
cartwheels, flips, etc. The monies raised benefit the Children’s Miracle Network hospital in the
participants’ and clubs’ local community.
For more information on raising money for Children’s Miracle Network through the Tyson Fitness
Challenge, visit usagym.childrensmiraclenetwork.org.
