–Special to the record
The highly anticipated Second Annual Move It Health Fair was held on Saturday, April 9 at the Williams School from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Over 500 children and families came out to the fair, an increase from the crowd of nearly 150 families in its inaugural year. Organized as a response to the growing childhood obesity epidemic, the event promoted individual, family, and community health through dance, martial arts, and fitness.
The fair showcased interactive presentations from the YMCA of East Boston, Capoeira Brasil Martial Arts Group, and CAPIC Head Start’s Zumba instructor Jeanette Velez, among others. Children and families were able to join the presenters through dance and movement reinforcing the importance of health and fitness and maintaining an active lifestyle.
During this year’s event, over 30 community-based organizations from Chelsea, Revere, East Boston and Winthrop hosted a table to highlight their fitness and health programs and other resources available in our area. Some of these organizations included Angel Food Ministries, Department of Conservation and Recreation, Chelsea Kiwanis, Revere Public Library, and Boston University School of Dental Medicine. Participants collected stickers from each table they visited in order to enter a free raffle which included fitness equipment, healthy food baskets, bike helmets, and gift cards. The event also included a drawing for a 16” children’s bicycle for one lucky family.
Family & Community Network Coordinator, Laura Budhai credits the success of the fair to the interactive nature of the event and to the work of the planning committee, local organizations, and donors, “This year’s planning committee did a great job of organizing the event, fundraising, and coordinating volunteers. We also couldn’t have done it without the willingness of community organizations to volunteer their time to host a table and engage the crowd in a demonstration.” Student volunteers from the Interact Club at Chelsea High School also assisted the planning committee the day of the event.