SOUTH KINGSTOWN — Every child can be an athlete.

That’s the message a group of health-care and fitness volunteers hopes to spread on Saturday, when they host an event for 200 children, ages 7 to 11, that’s open to the public at the South County YMCA in Wakefield.

At a time of dramatic increases in childhood obesity, depression, anxiety, diabetes and suicide, organizers of the Power of Play stress that exercise and fun games are a great way to counter such health concerns.

“This generation may be the first generation that dies younger and sicker than their parents,” said one of the organizers, Bert Reid, a doctor of physical therapy at Olympic Physical Therapy in Middletown.

Hoping to avert that kind of future for today’s children, organizers plan to introduce them to newer kinds of games that involve and challenge children of all abilities and sizes on Saturday.

Organizers say they need parents and other volunteers to help out Saturday. The activity part of the event runs from 9 a.m. to noon, and lunch will follow. Each student athlete will get a “goody bag” with information from local businesses about healthy lifestyles.

The program is based on a similar one in Adrian, Mich., called Free2Play that has drawn 2,000 children, Reid said.

About 100 children have already signed up for the South County YMCA event, but there’s room for 100 more. Athletes and volunteers can register with the South County YMCA, by calling (401) 783-3900, or online at the Web site for Olympic Physical Therapy in Middletown, www.olympicpt-ri.com/.

On the Web: A Free2Play video offers a glimpse into how organizers hope to inspire children to pursue athletics. Check it out at the Web site for Olympic Physical Therapy in Middletown, www.olympicpt-ri.com/. Follow the link to find out more about the Power of Play event. The video link is at the bottom of that page.

kbramson@projo.com