Monthly fitness program brings together IDD adults and college athletes

CCCC’s Health and Fitness Science Department has been trying out something new this school year — offering a monthly group fitness activity for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Fitness First Fridays take place typically on the first Friday of each month from 12:45-1:45 p.m., with the next one scheduled for March 6. The cost for participants is $5 per person, per session.

CCCC college athletes lead many of the activities for the adults, with others led by Health and Fitness Science Department instructors. Past activities have included weight training, volleyball, and basketball skills. March 6 and April 10 activities will focus on soccer.

“We’re just trying to expose them to a lot of the student athletes, and also just expose them to different sports and skills, just for fun and fitness,” said Thadd McElreath, Chair of CCCC’s Health and Fitness Science Department.

McElreath said the idea was inspired by the cooking activities run by CCCC’s Culinary Arts Department for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, also on first Fridays.

“It worked to reach a population that they weren’t reaching with the standard, regular classes,” he said. “So we are just following their lead.” 

The addition of the fitness activity afterward complements those cooking activities, and it's another way for CCCC to give back to the community, he said.  

Many of the participants come over from the Stevens Center, a disability services and support organization that offers an adult day program onsite and is located very close to CCCC’s Lee Main Campus. Other participants come individually or with smaller groups. 

McElreath has been working closely with CCCC’s athletic department to plan Fitness First Fridays. 

On the First Friday in February, CCCC’s basketball team came out to work with the participants. 

“We are going to do dribbling and passing on this end and we’re going to do shooting on this end,” Coach Brad McDougald told them, pointing up and down the court. “So whichever one interests you the most, go ahead and go grab your basketball and go to that end, and these guys will be there waiting.”

While most of the other participants opted for dribbling and passing, Ray Tingen and Maryann Martin, both of Sanford, headed the other direction.

Both proved themselves as good shots, not needing much in the way of coaching from the players, who called out a lot of encouragement, with occasional tips or ideas for challenges thrown in.

“I’m having fun,” said Tingen, who used to play on his high school’s basketball team.

Martin said she helped manage the basketball team at one of the high schools she attended. She said she likes being active with Fitness First Fridays at CCCC.

“Instead of working out at home, I work out here,” she said.

McElreath said he’s enjoyed seeing both the participants and the student athletes enjoying their time together. 

“Everybody loves to have fun,” he said. “It’s great to see students from all walks of life meeting together in a fitness environment, just to have fun, and be moving, to try something new.” 

To RSVP for Fitness First Fridays email Thadd McElreath at tmcel468@cccc.edu. Registration for the culinary classes is available by calling Continuing Education at (919) 718-7500.