IN 2010, MORE
than one-third of children and adolescents
ages through 1 were overweight or obese. Additionally,
a 2011 survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention showed 1 percent of high school students
in Texas were obese, up from 1 percent in 200.
Local health professionals are partnering with area
schools to combat the childhood obesity epidemic with
programs such as CATCH in Motion. This program was
developed by Shannon Health & Wellness to address
the coordinated school health requirements by helping
schools provide nutrition and physical education training.
CATCH in Motion Kids’ Marathon, now in its fourth
year, provides kids an opportunity to learn healthy habits
and get moving.
HOPE
SPRINGS
ETERNAL
AT ONE POINT
in our lives, we might
face a difficult test, one that leads to a life-
changing journey, and one that involves
faith, trust and hope. Cancer is one of
those difficult tests.
LET IT GROW
The Garden of Hope,
located just outside the Shannon Oncol-
ogy Center, provides a beautiful healing
landscape for patients indoors as well,
as they enjoy its beauty from the large
windows inside the oncology treatment
room. The garden is designed to be a
place where they may rest or choose to
receive their therapy while being reju-
venated by nature and the garden’s spirit
that surrounds them.
RUN FOR YOUR HEALTH
More than 00 kids from area
schools participated in last year’s Kids’ Marathon. The
event has grown every year, and September Summers,
program coordinator, hopes the pattern will continue
this year.
“Many studies have shown childhood obesity has
numerous short- and long-term effects on health and
well-being,” she says. “We want as many kids as possible
to be involved, and we are continuing to challenge adults
to be involved as well.”
Preparation for Kids’ Marathon starts early in spring
semester and is open to kids from kindergarten through
sixth grade.
Each participating student, as well as his or her family,
is encouraged to walk or run a total distance of 2 miles
before the
Last Lap Celebration on April
. Students are
given a mileage tracker to help them track their progress
throughout the semester.
“The mileage tracker allows the students to keep up
with their progress by coloring in each quarter mile they
complete,” Summers says. “They complete a big portion
of the 2 miles in their physical education classes.”
AND THEN—PARTY!
The Last Lap Celebration is a
celebration in every sense of the word. Students are
cheered on by their parents and hometown heroes as they
complete the final 0.2 miles of their marathon. The first
500 students to cross the finish line will receive a T-shirt
and medal. Every participant will receive a water bottle
provided by Suddenlink. Student athletes from Angelo
State University and Central and Lake View high schools
are present to take pictures with the kids and sign auto-
graphs. Fun activities are provided by community-based
organizations that offer programs during the summer
months to keep kids active and motivated while they’re
out of school.
“Our partnership with the San Angelo Independent
School District and sponsors make this a fun, successful
event each year,” Summers says. “This year we’d like to
thank Angelo Awards, Armstrong Backus & Co. LLP, Big
Country T’s, Farmers Insurance, Jackson Walker LLP, San
Angelo City Recreational Division, SAISD, Shannon and
Suddenlink. We hope to see continued growth and the
formation of healthy habits in our local kids so they can
grow up to be healthy adults.”
e Last Lap Celebration will take place at San
Angelo Stadium starting at : p.m.
Participants are
welcome to come and go through p.m. Laps will be run
every 15 minutes. For more information about Kids’ Mara-
thon, visit
or call
- -
.
STOP CHILDHOOD OBESITY!
WHERE HEALTHY HABITS START: Kids take off for their
final lap at Kids Marathon. They are joined by school
mascots and ASU football players.
The garden is made possible through
lasting contributions from individuals and
families through gifts in support of those
whomwe love or have loved, and who have
been touched by cancer. We invite you to
join us in enjoying this special place and
help perpetuate its beauty, providing a
lasting place of hope for cancer patients.
June 1 is Cancer Survivors Day—a cel-
ebration for those who have survived, an
inspiration for those recently diagnosed,
a gathering of support for families and an
outreach to the community.
BRICK BY BRICK
Celebrate your loved
one in a meaningful and unique way in
The Garden of Hope—purchase a brick
paver. These pavers are placed in the
teardrop path in the middle of the gar-
den. Pavers accommodate three lines of
text with 12 characters per line. Pavers
are inches by inches and come at 150
per paver.
SEEDS OF HOPE
Help perpetuate the
beauty of The Garden of Hope so it will
remain a special place for all who may
seek its comfort. Seeds of Hope contribu-
tions will be used toward ongoing plant
and landscape maintenance in the gar-
den. Contributions are available at 100,
50 and 25.
To provide patients and families with
a place to find solace and serenity while
creating an atmosphere of healing for the
mind, body and spirit—this is the prom-
ise of The Garden of Hope. If you wish to
contribute to the garden, please contact
Suzi Reynolds at
- -
or email
suzireynolds@shannonhealth.org
.
We l l n e s s
S P R I N G 2 0 1 4
7
H E A L T H
B E A T
