Whitesville Elementary School is one of four western Kentucky schools to receive a share of a $66,000 grant by Baptist Health Madisonville to create a Project Fit America program this fall to reduce childhood obesity.

Also sharing in the grant are Freedom Elementary and Pembroke Elementary in Christian County and Sebree Elementary in Webster County.

Whitesville will receive $16,350, according to Janet Farrell, physical education teacher at the school.

Each school will receive indoor and outdoor fitness equipment, teacher training and curriculum materials, according to a news release.

Six other schools have received Project Fit grants from Baptist Health Madisonville in the past.

The list includes Grapevine Elementary, Pride Elementary and West Broadway Elementary in Hopkins County, Central City Elementary and Longest Elementary in Muhlenberg County and Sinking Fork Elementary in Christian County.

Kristy Quinn, the hospital’s marketing director, surprised each school with a banner to notify them that they had won a grant.

“This will provide a whole new approach to health and wellness for these students,” she said.

Robert Ramey, Baptist Health Madisonville president, said the program highlights the hospital’s focus on health, “especially in today’s culture when obesity and its related conditions, such as diabetes, are among the area’s greatest health risks.”

He said Project Fit America can help children “build good lifelong habits for healthy lifestyles.”

“We know childhood obesity can lead to health problems such as high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes,” Ramey said.