A FirstHealth Richmond Memorial donation of strength and conditioning equipment to Richmond County Schools will allow the students of two county alternative schools to get some exercise next year.

The FirstHealth Richmond Center for Health and Fitness in Rockingham donated seven pieces of cable-training equipment to Leak Street High School, as well as a number of pieces to the Richmond County Transitional School.

“This equipment will allow us to offer a course in strength and conditioning as part of our curriculum offerings next year through our Health and Physical Education Department,” said Leak Street Principal Darryl Mason.

He explained that in the past, workouts for the students of Leak Street have consisted of such activities as walking, manual exercises such as push-ups and sit-ups and playing team sports.

“The focus has been more on cardio-vascular than anything,” the former gym teacher Mason said.

He said there is interest in the course, especially among the boys.

“Here at Leak Street, we’re about 95 percent male, and the boys always have a strong interest in anything that involves athletics and exercise,” Mason said.

“The director of the FirstHealth Centers for Health and Fitness coordinated the equipment donation with school superintendent Dr. George Norris and assistant superintendent Dr. Jeff Maples,” said FirstHealth Spokeswoman Emily Sloan. “At a time when our area school systems are struggling financially, we are pleased to donate equipment that they otherwise may never be able to obtain.”

“In North Carolina, one-third of children are overweight or obese, underscoring the importance of opportunities for physical activity in our local schools,” said Director of FirstHealth Centers for Health and Fitness John Caliri. “We are pleased to donate this equipment to Richmond County Schools to support and encourage physical activity for area youth.”

Both Leak Street and the Richmond County Traditional School were created during the school district’s realignment efforts to offer students who have struggled in the traditional classroom setting the opportunity to graduate in a setting that offers more personal attention through smaller class sizes.

Last year, Leak Street graduated about a dozen students, and this year there were 27 in the graduating class.

“We’re hoping we can continue to build on that positive growth and have even more in the graduating class next year,” Mason said Monday.

Monday, maintenance workers were working to rearrange the cafeteria area in the school to allow for the addition of a weight room.

“First Health has been a long-time supporter and wonderful community partner for our schools,” RCS Public Information Officer Ashley Simmons said. “We are very appreciative of this act of kindness and the numerous services they provide for our students and employees. We are very proud of our programs at Leak Street High and Richmond Transitional School and we’re always excited when they are recognized by the local community for their efforts.”

For Mason, there is an implicit message of support in the donation.

“We here at Leak Street are very appreciative of FirstHealth for considering us and our needs, especially since our school is mainly filled with at-risk students,” he said. “This really shows my students that people on the outside of Leak Street are taking an interest in what is going on here, and they do care.”

Staff Writer Philip D. Brown can be reached at (910) 997-3111 ext. 32, or by e-mail at pbrown@yourdailyjournal.com.