Andersen kids lead FitFactor in participation points

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Nestor Cruz
  • 36th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam (AFPN) --  A brother and sister team from Andersen hold the most participation points in FitFactor, the Air Force-wide youth fitness program.

Fenton and Cierra Fitzgerald, the son and daughter of Master Sgts. Fenton and Kimberly Fitzgerald, accomplished the feat by working their way through three of the five levels of FitFactor -- earning the maximum allowable daily points.

Through the program, participants earn points doing various activities. There are five levels, based on the number of points accumulated: energy level, 1,000 points; strength level, 3,000 points; agility level, 8,000 points; adventurous level, 15,000 points; and endurance level, 25,000 points.

The Fitzgeralds earned points by doing various daily activities. They included walking, running, basketball and playing instruments. Fenton Jr. said he started walking more after starting FitFactor and his sister Cierra started cheerleading. They also earned points doing household chores. On the weekends, Fenton Jr. and Cierra went golfing and bowling with their parents.

“I just made sure it all added up to 100 points everyday,” said the 15-year old Fenton Jr., who established himself as a golfer in July. He scored a hole-in-one during the second round of the base golf championship at the Palm Tree Golf Course July 17.

After reaching her first 1,000 points and completing the first level of the program, 12-year old Cierra said she “felt really excited and eager to reach new levels. I felt really good.”

Cierra was also the first youth center member to earn 1,000 points.

“Fenton and Cierra are very athletic and studious kids,” Sergeant Fenton Fitzgerald said. “We taught them to set their own goals and to achieve them. It’s a great thing they’re doing and we’re very proud.”

“We’re just proud of them,” said Sergeant Kimberly Fitzgerald. “They’re having fun, doing the things they enjoy and I wish them more success.”

Fenton Jr. joined FitFactor with a few friends, but after some time, his friends lost interest in the program. This inspired Fenton Jr. to work even harder in earning points and accomplishing his goals.

“Once you start, don’t quit, because quitting is a bad habit,” Fenton Jr. said.

“Everybody needs to get out there and get fit,” Cierra said.