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Kids Compete To Show What They Know About Type 2 Diabetes
From the Canada News-Wire
Tue 15 Jan 2008
Students in five provinces are rewarded for stepping up to the challenge
TORONTO, Jan. 15 /CNW/ - Students in thirty winning classrooms across Canada will be jumping with excitement today as the Everyone Jump Celebration Concert series kicks off. The winners were chosen from more than 400 classrooms from B. C., Alberta, Ontario, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. Everyone Jump is a partnership between Ophea (Ontario Physical and Health Education Association) and Novo Nordisk Canada Inc. to challenge Grade 5 students to demonstrate what they've learned about preventing type 2 diabetes through regular physical activity and healthy eating.
Everyone Jump...Kids Changing Diabetes is a Teaching Manual, music CD and an educational challenge that raises awareness of the ways that type 2 diabetes can be prevented. The program is designed for kids and teachers to work through the Teaching Manual and music CD in the classroom, and invites students to participate in an educational challenge. Students express what they've learned by designing a poster, writing a paragraph, composing song lyrics, or creating a physical activity for the classroom to accompany one of the songs on the Everyone Jump CD.
"Everyone Jump is a resource that truly benefits both students and teachers, " says Chris Markham, Executive Director, Ophea. "It is a fun and dynamic way to engage and educate kids about preventing type 2 diabetes and it also provides teachers with lesson plans that help them meet their provincial curriculum requirements."
Winning entries are rewarded with a live Everyone Jump Celebration Concert for their entire school. Concerts will take place at schools in Nova Scotia from January 15-17, Newfoundland from January 21-22, Ontario from January 24- February 4, Alberta from February 6-8 and British Columbia from February 12-14. For a full listing of winning schools and concert times, please visit www. opheaprograms.net/EJ
The Everyone Jump Celebration concert, produced by Children's Hour Productions, is a dynamic musical performance that reinforces the lessons learned and gets the audience actively involved throughout the show.
"Everyone Jump teaches kids the importance of healthy eating and regular physical activity at an early age," says Vince Lamanna, president, Novo Nordisk Canada. "We are proud to offer this program for the third consecutive year. This is an interactive way to give kids the knowledge they need to make good choices that will ultimately benefit their long-term health."
Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed by modifying the two major risk factors - unhealthy eating and physical inactivity. Over the past 25 years, the number of Canadian children and adolescents who are overweight or obese has tripled. (Source: Tremblay, M.S., Willms, J.D., "Is the Canadian Childhood epidemic related to physical inactivity?".)
Being physically active can help prevent type 2 diabetes. Epidemiological studies suggest that physical activity can reduce the risk of non-insulin- dependent diabetes by up to 50 percent." (Source: Health Canada "Don't turn your back on Diabetes".)
About Ophea
Ophea is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting Ontario school communities through advocacy, quality programs and services, and partnership building. Ophea is committed to working in partnership with government and non-government organizations, and will continue to provide leadership and advocacy to foster active, healthy living in Ontario school communities. Ophea is led by the vision that all kids will value, participate in, and make a lifelong commitment to active, healthy living.
About Novo Nordisk
Novo Nordisk is a healthcare company and a world leader in diabetes care and biopharmaceuticals. Novo Nordisk manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products and services that make a significant difference to patients, the medical profession and society. Novo Nordisk's business is driven by the Triple Bottom Line: a commitment to economic success, environmental soundness, and social responsibility to employees and customers. The company's 80-year history of diabetes care innovation and achievement originated in Canada where insulin was discovered. With headquarters in Denmark, Novo Nordisk has more than 23,500 full-time employees in 79 countries, and markets its products in 179 countries.
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