By Jessica Goodman
Times News Staff Writer
Sunday, January 18, 2009
With hula hoops, dance and different-sized balls to throw, kids got moving on Saturday at the Blue Ridge Mall. Be Active Day was funded by the Childhood Obesity Prevention Demonstration Project, a grant awarded to Henderson County to help fight childhood obesity. Hundreds of kids with their families came out to experience the day.
“We just decided to do a big kick-off to show how easy it is to be active,” said Terri Wallace, executive director of the Henderson County Partnership for Health.
The Childhood Obesity Prevention Demonstration Project is funded by a grant from the state’s legislature, which the Henderson County Department of Public Health and the Partnership of Health helped spearhead with 17 other agencies in the community. The grant was very competitive, with 30 counties applying and Henderson County being only one of five to receive the grant. They are hoping to make Be Active Day an annual event.