Steelers fan Sam Kimmel, 13, of Homer City, Penn., was chosen as this year's NFL PLAY 60 Super Kid, it was announced today. On Feb. 1, Sam will hand the game ball to an official before kickoff of Super Bowl XLIII in front of more than 70,000 fans and a worldwide television audience on NBC.
Twenty-thousand young fans entered the NFL Super Kid Contest, presented by Kellogg's Frosted Flakes TM Earn Your Stripes TM program, online at NFLRUSH.com, the NFL's official website for kids. To be eligible, they pledged to be active for 60 minutes a day as part of the "NFL PLAY 60 Challenge," and answered two questions about the importance of health and fitness.
Sam's answers focused on the importance of staying active to help control his asthma, and the ways that former Steeler Jerome Bettis inspires him to stay fit. In his essay, Sam, who aspires to be a sportscaster, wrote, "Exercise and being active has helped me with my asthma. The doctors told me that exercise is the best thing for it. I have been active every day since. NFL players are obvious inspirations to many, but to me there is one that really sticks out. Jerome Bettis: The Bus. He was told that he had asthma when he was 14 … Now his old playing days with asthma inspire me to work harder."
Sam was selected by a panel of NFL players committed to "playing 60" every day, including Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints) and Santana Moss (Washington Redskins). His prize includes a trip for his family to Super Bowl XLIII, and tickets to NFL Experience and NFL Kids' Day. Sam will be a part of Kids' Day festivities at NFL Experience, joining NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and local children who participated in the NFL PLAY 60 Challenge.
As the winner of the NFL Super Kid contest, Sam also will be featured on special boxes of Kellogg's Frosted Flakes cereal as part of the Earn Your Stripes program, which encourages kids to stay active, eat right and live healthy lifestyles. The program helps kids believe in themselves to overcome challenges, accomplish their goals and be their very best on and off the field. To learn more, visit www.frostedflakes.com.
NFL PLAY 60 challenges kids across the country to play for 60 minutes a day. Spurred on by fitness tips from players like Donovan McNabb and Hines Ward, kids can set fitness goals, get tips from NFL pros and share ideas for staying active for 60 minutes a day.
