Stride Right Program     

Contact:  Karma Marino  (239) 936-1645    kjarma@comcast.net

     Ann Shah   (239) 482-7854    Ann_Shah@alumni.brown.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Lee County Medical Society Alliance, Inc.
133300-56 S. Cleveland Ave. #112
Fort Myers, FL 33907
www.LCMSA-online.org

January 6, 2005

LEE COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY ALLIANCE FOUNDATION, INC. CONTINUES HEALTHY LIFESTYLES PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN IN LEE COUNTY

FORT MYERS, Fla.—Lee County elementary school students are taking steps to fight the growing epidemic of childhood obesity with the help of the School District of Lee County and the Lee County Medical Society Alliance Foundation’s (LCMSAF) "Stride Right: A Fitness for Life Program." This is the second year for the "Stride Right" Program in Lee County with two elementary schools participating, Diplomat Elementary in Cape Coral and Villas Elementary in Fort Myers. In the first year of the program, Lee County won a first place Award of Excellence for "Youth Oriented Programs" from the Florida Medical Association Alliance.

Diplomat Elementary School in Cape Coral has concluded their 2004 Stride Right Program, which ran from Oct 29 through Dec 10, and will be presenting awards on the 14^th of January in their cafeteria. Presentations will begin at 9:20 am and run through until 10:50 am, for 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th graders. Prizes will be given for individual competition, where students completed healthy lifestyle tasks and exercise at home during the six week period. Prizes will also be given for students who completed the most distance walking during their physical education classes.

The official "Stride Right" kick-off celebration for Villas Elementary in Fort Myers will be held on the 18^th of January. The event will include a low-impact, high intensity safe workout led by Mr. Deke, a local children’s fitness instructor from 9:10 am -10:20 am. Parents are also encouraged to attend with their children. The program will run through March 1.

The six-week program incorporates elements of physical activity, wellness and nutrition education to encourage daily physical activity and healthy eating habits in both children and adults in Lee County.

"Encouraging healthy lifestyles for children is a way to promote healthy living for everyone in Lee County," said Karma Marino, Ph.D., co-coordinator of the "Stride Right" program and Co-President of the LCMSAF. "Health promotion is one of our objectives as an organization."

About 15 percent of children aged 6 to 11 years are currently overweight in the United States. This figure has tripled over the past two decades.

In order to encourage participation and promote teamwork, the "Stride Right" program will include a healthy competition for students in each grade. Students will be given points for healthy lifestyle behaviors, such as exercising regularly and eating nutritious foods.

The schools also implement a walking program in their physical education classes and encourage physical activity outside of school.

In addition, students are shown a series of short video clips from the "What’s on Your Plate with Willie Munchright" nutrition education program created by the McDonald’s Corporation. The videos help to establish and encourage healthy eating habits in children.

The program also plans to provide all students with healthy snacks to illustrate the importance of eating nutritious foods. Many local vendors such as Wolfers Produce, Publix, Coca-Cola, Velda Farms and Sweetbay have generously donated to ensure the children are provided healthy snacks during the Stride Right Program.

The LCMSAF continues to support the award-winning anti-violence program, "Bullies and Victims: A Proactive Approach to Stopping School Violence." The program provided free training to Lee County educators in an effort to reduce violence among children in the community. It also operates the "Buckle Bear" program in Lee County schools that teaches seatbelt safety for children. Plans are being prepared to continue to spread the Stride Right program through other Lee County elementary schools in the upcoming years.

The LCMSAF is a nonprofit, volunteer organization committed to the health of Lee County residents. The LCMSAF works to promote health education, to identify and address health care needs and to support health-related charitable endeavors.

For more information e-mail Karma Marino at kjarma@comcast.net or Ann Shah at Ann_Shah@alumni.brown.edu or visit www.LCMSA-online.org.