The National Senior Games & the fight against childhood obesity

The Local Organizing committee for the National Senior Games, recognizing the link between healthy and fit young people and the mission of the Senior Games movement to encourage an active, healthy lifestyle, decided to award grants to two Houston organizations active in the fight against childhood obesity. On Monday, April 18, two grant winners of the 27 organization that applied were announced at the Children's Museum in Houston.

 

The Children's Museum of Houston received a $20,000 grant to help support its Power Play exhibit: a towering 4,500 square foot exhibit and programs which engage children and families in physical challenges, balanced with education on the value of exercise and good nutrition. For more on the Children's Museum, please visit www.cmhouston.org. The second grant went to the Memorial Herman Community Benefit Corporation to enable it to implement a "Project Fit America" program at a local elementary school. PFA is a nonprofit, national grassroots organization that develops fitness education in schools and enhances the existing Healthy Eating and Lifestyles Program of MHCBC's Health Centers for Schools. Visit the MHCBC's website at www.mhcommunitybenefit.org.

"Being active and healthy is what has enabled those athletes to reach this point in their lives," Dan Wolterman said, President & CEO of Memorial Hermann Healthcare System and Chairman of the Houston Local Organizing Committee (shown on the left in the picture). "While people are today living longer, children who are not fit and healthy will not." DeEtte Sauer, a Houston Senior athlete and winner of 10 medals in national and international swimming competitions stressed the link between being active and healthy as a young person and living a longer, healthier and more productive life. She passed a torch to 10-year old Eligha Jones, a member of the Children's Museum Children's Committee, symbolizing the generational connection. (Sauer - shown in center of picture with Jones).

DeEtte Sauer: 70, swimming

DeEtte Sauer: 70, swimming
Ms. Sauer is a two-time silver medalist in individual medley events in the Summer National Senior Games, finishing as the runner-up in the 100 IM in Pittsburgh in 2005 and the 200 IM in Pal Alto in 2009. Sauer went on to capture 3 more bronze medals in Palo Alto that year. She was also a gold medalist at the Masters National Championships in both 2007 and 2008 and won four silver medals at the Pan American Masters Championships in both 2007 and 2008 and won four silver medals at the 2007 Pan American Masters Championships in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Graham Johnston: 79, swimming

Graham Johnston: 79, swimming
Mr. Johnston is a member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame. A Houston resident and naturalized U.S. citizen since 1972, he competed in the 400- and 1,600-meter freestyle at the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki representing South Africa. As a masters swimmer, he owns or previously held many freestyle and individual medley records. Mr. Johnston has also established many open-water swimming records in his long career.

Dr. David Boyles: 83, archery

Dr. David Boyles: 83, archery
Dr. Boyles is the national record-holder in the 80-year-old division in the bare bow division. He was the age-group champion at the 2009 Summer National Senior Games in Palo Alto, Calif. Dr. Boyles has participated in each of the Senior Games since 1994 in either archery or golf, sometimes both when schedules permit. He makes his own strings and constructs his own arrows. Dr. Boyles has been a practicing dentist for 57 years and continues to treat patients in Alvin.

Dinah Anderson

Dinah is the first of several athletes that we'll briefly introduce - just a small number of the many determined athletes competing in this event.

Dinah Anderson: 57, track and field

Ms. Anderson is a national masters champion in the high jump and also competes on the national level in the pole vault, javelin and shot put. She also competed in body building for 10 years, placing in the top 10 in two Ms. Olympia events, the highest level of professional competition. Ms. Anderson is also a personal trainer.

Volunteer with the National Senior Games

Volunteering is a great way to spend your free time helping your community. Whether you're a high school student looking to show community involvement in college applications, a college student seeking to add diversity to your resume or someone of any age who wants to help out while having fun, the 2011 National Senior Games needs your help!

The Volunteer Organization Committee for Houston wants to make the 2011 games the best yet. To make this happen,  we'll need the help of thousands of individuals donating their time, energy, expertise and enthusiasm.

 Volunteers will have an opportunity to participate in an exciting national event, meet people from all over the country, and share their pride in their community with others.

For more information, including a link to register as a volunteer, visit: http://www.nsga.com/volunteers.