At 6'3" tall, Canadian NBA star Tyler Ennis is a basketball player who many people literally look up to, but on Thursday, the Brampton, Ont., native was more than just another tall athlete – he was an inspiration to dozens of children.
Ennis, who made his NBA debut in 2014, dropped in at a Scarborough elementary school to sign autographs and to motivate students to break a sweat and to stay active. The event was part of the YMCA's Health Kids Week.
"I remember as a kid seeing guys and just being inspired and wanting to go play basketball," Ennis told CTV Toronto. "Hopefully, I will be able to do that for these kids."
Students at Glamorgan were among 20,000 others across the Greater Toronto Area who took part in the Healthy Kids event. The YMCA organized a number of walks across the city on Thursday with the hopes of motivating children to get off the couch and to exercise.
"We're hoping that kids can see that if you work really hard and you learn how to live a healthy lifestyle by being active, by eating healthy, you can build the skills you need to excel in life," Healthy Kids Week spokesperson Virginia Dimoglou said.
Ennis also stopped by Toronto's Chester Elementary School on Thursday, where principal Sean Hume was impressed by the 20-year-old Milwaukee Bucks player.
"I think it's important for the kids to see that someone who comes from exactly the same type of neighbourhood they come from, someone who comes from the same kind of roots they come from can be all that they wish to be," he said.
Healthy Kids Week wraps up with Healthy Kids Day on June 7, when the YMCA will be opening up all of its facilities nationwide so children and their families can check out some of the programs for free.
With a report from CTV Toronto's Janice Golding
