Matumaini

http://www.matumainichildcare.org/index.htm

Shalom Orphanage

http://www.shalomorphanagekaratu.org/index.html

Personally, I’m not a huge fan of scales or BMI measurements. I’m much more interested in fitness than in weight, but these numbers are staggering and we’re not even including kids in the equation. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: an unfit nation is a weak nation. How in the world do we expect to return to economic prominence when we can’t even get our collective butts off the sofa? And if you thought you saw the worst of our healthcare problems and rising insurance premiums hold onto your hats. At this rate of “growth” things will get a lot worse.

While we can whine about the problem until we’re blue in the face, we need to start working on viable solutions. Unfortunately, most of the governmental and non-profit organizations charged with solving the crisis have been highly ineffective (and that’s being kind). To make it worse, they’re squandering billions of dollars that could be put to much better use. Too many groups are more interested in doing what’s politically expedient than in doing what’s right by our citizens. Trust me: we’ve worked with three coalitions, two government agencies, and more than a dozen non-profit organizations. We recently received a lucite plaque in the mail from a non-profit organization that will remain nameless (to protect the guilty) as a “thank you” for collaborating with them. Here’s the kicker: they refused to collaborate with us for two years in a row so we bailed on their end-of-year meeting! But they sent the “award” anyway. I wrote to them immediately and told them they should have used their money to buy jump ropes for the kids instead of polluting the earth with yet another meaningless plaque made in China by an underpaid worker.

Our belief is that to solve the sedentary living crisis you need to begin with children and you need to show them (not tell them!) that the pursuit of fitness can be fun and that healthy, well-prepared foods taste a hundred times better than the garbage they’re used to. There are lots of other simple steps you need to take, but I don’t have space to go into that here.

What I will do, however, is ask for your support. In light of the recent budget cuts, most schools can’t afford to invest in wellness programs thereby compounding an already dire situation. At our December 1 and December 6 happy hours, we’re going to hold two raffles, the proceeds of which will help support our school-based, Hopping for Health program. With the revenue from the raffle and from sales of ropes, shirts, and other products, we hope to be able to deliver Hopping for Health for FREE to at least a few schools.

If you like the sound of this here’s what you can do to help:
1) Buy raffle tickets and spread the word to your friends about the raffle and our mission (you need not be present at the drawing to win a prize)
2) Help us secure great raffle prizes. We’d live to have 10 prizes in all (five will be raffled off at each event). We’d prefer that each prize be valued at $50 or more retail.
3) Buy ropes. Buy shirts. Buy our DVD.

Thank you for your support!

Hop on!

(on a scale of 0.00 to 5.00 with 5.00 being a perfect score)
Would recommend the session to colleagues: 4.93
Content and strategies were useful: 4.93
Presenter was effective: 4.93
Satisfied with the session: 4.90

The highlight of the event was the foam noodle javelin throw, which was won by diminutive yoga instructor, Jan Yuvan, one of only 2 women competing in the event. Jan, who has played competitive baseball for many years, used an unorthodox underhand toss to capture the event.

The after party at the Gibson was attended by approximately 50 revelers and featured yet more violent exchanges between archrivals Howard Wu and Sahy Lalime. Disciplinary action may be forthcoming against both competitors. The League of Punk Rope Nations is investigating.

For more photos of the Games check out Maria B’s pics here.

At 10:15am, the 2nd annual Punk Rope Games will commence with the procession of “nations” and the competition will get underway at 1030am.

9 teams, each consisting of 4 persons, will compete in 9 events ranging from rope jumping (e.g., arm crosses and double unders) to rubber chicken tossing to foam noodle javelin tossing.

At stake is the Punk Rope Cup, lots of prizes, and a healthy dose of pride.

After the games (around 1pm), an awards ceremony and BBQ will take place at the Gibson (108 Bedford Ave @ N. 11th St) where you can indulge in drink specials (beer, wine, and well drinks), cheap eats ($1 regular & veggie dogs, $2 regular & veggie burgers), Wii Bowling, Foosball, and darts.

Below are a few photos from last year’s inaugural Games.