McKEESPORT (KDKA) — Some local middle school students have been working for weeks to get fit, and today, their efforts were rewarded.

The kids from Founder’s Hall Middle School in McKeesport have been taking part in the NFL Play 60 Challenge.

The program, sponsored by the American Heart Association and the NFL, is aimed at getting kids active.

“They have to get 60 minutes of activity throughout the day, they have to get 30 minutes in school and 30 minutes out of school,” said Brian Dececco, a teacher.

“It was kind of easy for me because I play basketball and we have practice just about every day,” said eighth grader, E’Dazjia Solomon-Green.

They completed the challenge, and as a reward, the Steelers’ Maurkice Pouncey and Marcus Gilbert paid a special visit to the school. They talked to the students about being fit, and then it was time to burn some calories.

The players took the kids through some of their pregame drills, using ladders and jump ropes.

“It’s always good to give back in the community and show our faces because they love watching us on Sundays. Why not give back, show our faces and help them in the right direction,” said Gilbert.

“Just to interact with others, to play around, get a good sweat going on. I mean obesity is a big thing these days, so just to get the kids running around and active and stuff,” added Pouncey.

The students say getting an hour of activity a day was no problem, and many plan to continue that. They also say the effort was well worth a visit from these guys.

“It’s not every day that you get to see people that play for the NFL or any professional sport,” said Lamaar McKamey, an eighth grader.

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