Health Fair debuts Cordova Challenge, promotes diabetes awareness

JOY LANDALUCE

April 25, 2008 at 10:50AM AKST

> Jackie Ladd and Jeanna VanBrocklin of the Native Village of Eyak Diabetes/Wellness Program presented an introduction to the Cordova Challenge at the Cordova Health Fair.

"The Native Village of Eyak would like to see everyone in Cordova be physically active for 30 minutes a day," VanBrocklin said of the challenge, which is based on the National President’s Challenge.

"People were provided with monthly tracking sheets, and ideas for a variety of physical activities," she said.

"It’s not as difficult as people may think to get 30 active minutes everyday, especially when you count everyday tasks like vacuuming and shoveling snow."

The Health Fair, which is sponsored by the Cordova’s Family Resource Center, was well attended.

Cordova students focused on marine debris at one of the many booths at this year’s Cordova Health Fair.

Allen Marquette, education program coordinator at the Prince William Sound Science Center, described the evolution of the booth.

> "The trash collection and artwork creations as well as the marine debris collection and outreach was funded through monies from the National Parks Foundation, Oil Spill Recovery Institute and British Petroleum," Marquette said.

"We at the science center organized students for the project. High school students made posters, brochures and two students even wrote and recorded a ‘trash song’ for the event," he said.

"Students were all focused around outreach and education about marine debris and how it harms the environment and wildlife."

Joy Landaluce can be reached at (907) 424-7181.