The newspaper feature shows Projecto Juan Diego Heroes-4-Health member Desiree Garcia making an apple smoothie while cycling during Proyecto Juan Diego World Diabetes Day Health FairCameron County teen ambassadors and Guadalupe Castro, CEP Agent, were recently recognized for their involvement in the Heroes 4-Health Program, a grant project funded by Walmart through the National 4-H Council and facilitated in ten counties by Dawn Burton as Health Coordinator.  On Monday a photo of a 4-H ambassador was shown prominently on the front page of the Brownsville Harold newspaper, along with the new smoothie bike that they used to demonstrate the benefits of being physically active and eating healthy. The smoothie bike’s attractive and popular design was the creative product of Tomeka Thomas, administrative assistant for Family & Consumer Sciences in Harris County.  The youth also demonstrated healthy snacks for the family and gave presentations on drinking less sugar, eating less fast food, and a healthy MyPlate.

The World Diabetes Day Health Fair at Proyecto Juan Diego was sponsored by local organizations in an effort to promote prevention and provide education to the Rio Grande Valley area, where one in three people are diagnosed with the disease, according to the article.  Guadalupe Castro is quoted in the article as saying, “Right now, we are seeing more childhood diabetes, and I’ve seen someone as young as fifth grade develop diabetes, which is why … It’s important to teach the dangers of eating too much fast food, or eating too much sugar, and it is never too early for people to start being healthy.”   A CEP Agent, she recently received a District 12 award for excellence in 4-H program quality through a school-based curriculum that advances life skills through the Heroes 4-Health Program in Cameron County.

The newspaper feature shows Proyecto Juan Diego Heroes-4-Health member Desiree Garcia making an apple smoothie while cycling during Proyecto Juan Diego World Diabetes Day Health Fair.

Photo and caption accessed from the http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/.

Rukeia Draw-Hood

 

Rukeia Draw-Hood, Ph.D.
Program Leader, 4-H and Youth Development
rdraw-hood@pvamu.edu
(936) 261-5130