More than 100 Christel House Academy students joined Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning in launching Project 18, a new program aimed at fighting childhood obesity in Indiana today. The state-wide health and wellness campaign is an initiative of Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at St.Vincent (courtesy photo) and focuses on school health education and community outreach.

The project, which is named after Manning’s football jersey number, provides Indiana elementary schools with an 18-week health and wellness curriculum designed to address the major risk behaviors in third-grade to fifth-grade students. It focuses on the areas of nutrition, physical activity and holistic health. In 2008, Indiana ranked 11th in the country for obesity. Approximately one-third of Hoosier children are overweight, and are more likely to develop high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, low self-esteem and depression. Marsh Supermarkets, Ball State University and Strategic Marketing & Research, Inc. (SMARI) have also teamed up with Manning and St. Vincent as they work to educate Indiana students and their families on healthy living choices through Project 18.

In addition to launching the program at Christel House Academy, Principal Carey Dahncke was also invited to be the only school principal to participate in videotaped public service announcements (see Carey in the Goal Setting video).

Be sure to check out the local Indianapolis evening news for highlights of the launch and press conference that took place at Christel House Academy this morning. Also watch our website for updates on our Academy students’ progress in the program beginning this fall.

More on our health programs
More Project 18
Video Coverage on WISH-TV
Coverage at IndyStar.com

Labels: Academy, event, health

An update to the previous posts. Over the last few days, our Outreach Coordinator and Nurse communicated with families through the Parents Association to get updates on our children and their families. We learned that our one student who was being monitored at the hospital has fully recovered! The school opens today for classes and we hear that all are excited to be back and learning once again.

Thank you to everyone in the Christel House community for all your thoughts, prayers and well wishes during this time of great concern.

Labels: health, Mexico, swine flu

This is an update to the previous post. Since that time, the second relative that was exposed has passed. The students cared for by these individuals were checked and found healthy. Two students showed flu-like symptoms and were taken to the hospital. One was diagnosed with a bad cold and released while the other is being monitored closely. So far, no students or staff members of Christel House Mexico have been infected and the school has been cleaned thoroughly. We have received an outpouring of support from friends of the organization. Please continue to keep all our friends in Mexico in your thoughts.

Local WISH-TV Channel 8 reported on the situation. Watch the video.

We will continue to post updates as they are available.

Labels: health, Mexico, swine flu