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Event promotes student health

On Thursday, May 17, the hearts@school health fair was another great success.

On Thursday, May 17, the hearts@school health fair was another great success.

Held at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre, students were in for an entire day of learning and participating in various events, dedicated to educating them on the importance of healthy living.

More than 250 participating students and 40 older leadership students from both Penticton and Summerland were involved.

The students attended six activity stations throughout the day. Two of the stations were educational where they attended mini-booths set up with catchy names: Sun Sense, Get Movin’, Butt Out (tobacco-prevention), Chill (stress-management) and Eat Right.

These stations were led by Summerland Secondary and Summerland Middle School leadership students.

Trivia Games, the other educational station was set up in a game-show format which tested the students and reinforced what they had learned earlier in the day.

The students were then able to attend three physical activity stations of their choice.

These included Valleywide Tae Kwon Do, Penticton Judo Club, GOES Jiu Jitsu and Golf led by the Summerland Golf and Country Club and Tyrel Babkirk, Jazz, Hip Hop Dance and Speedminton led by students, Yoga led by Tamara Semple, Action Schools! BC – Playground Games and Belly Dancing and Cheerleading led by Get Bent Studios.

Many businesses are dedicated to volunteering year after year and some have even been involved since 2003.

The hearts@school event was started in 2003 by nurse-educator Carol Stathers and Penticton Community Centre’s Bob Pope. This year most of the planning was done by Melissa Stathers who has been involved since she was in Grade 5.

It began with the goal of teaching kids the importance of a healthy lifestyle and introducing them to ways they can be active in the community.

It also provides an opportunity to try activities they may not have had an opportunity to do in the past.

The event would not have been possible without the support from the Lions Clubs of Penticton and Summerland. These groups are not only keen to help financially, but many volunteers come to the event to help out.