2008 Children's Wellness Event

On Saturday, October 4^th, moms and dads and kids began the annual Children's

Wellness Event with the Walk4 Kids.   Beginning at 7:00 a.m., Frank Shorter,

Boulder Olympian stepped out to lead the walkers and runners on their trek through Broomfield Open Space. 

 

Channel 7, featuring Broomfield's own Richard Ortner, was there to televise the

event, and continued to televise Children's Wellness Event activities throughout the

day.  Frank Shorter, Broomfield Mayor Pat Quinn, and, Broomfield Rotary Club

President Larry Haas were the first to be interviewed by Richard Ortner.  Rotary's

support of the event was introduced as well as the work the Rotarians would be

doing to keep activities running smoothly until the family health event ended,

 

As children made a healthy breakfast and then ate their "breakfast of champions",

Channel 7 continued their television coverage.  Digging in with enthusiasm, the

young cooks showed how good the food tasted by grins, giggles, and gooey faces,

 

Broomfield Rotarians were on hand to help manage the event.  Stephanie Ursini, president of the Denver Sky High Club and Cara Spengler a member of the Northglenn/Thornton Club joined twenty of  their fellow Broomfield Rotarians

to provide management of the event's many activities.

 

Broadlands Golf Course was included in the day's event by providing kids the

chance to experience golf through their Open Fairways program directed by

Jay Anderson and his staff.   Eleven youngsters and their families  made it to

Broadlands to give golf a try. In addition, Broadlands donated a family foursome

round of golf to the winner of the high school section of the essay contest

sponsored by the Children's Wellness Event and open to all area schools.  Over

one hundred essays were submitted.

 

People of every ethnic group came to Broomfield in answer to the publicity donated by Channel 7, Boulder Camera, and Broomfield Enterprise.  The Denver Metro area was made aware of the search for a marrow transplant match for Amanda Peebles, an 11-year-old Broomfield girl who had no more treatment for the deadly aplastic anemia  threatening to end her life.   Without a bone marrow transplant, Amanda has a limited time to live.

 

Volunteering to do the testing free of charge, Bonfils Blood Bank was overwhelmed by the numbers of people who showed up for DNA testing that could make them future donors to those so ill that their lives depend on bone marrow transplants.  Expecting only 25 to 30 prospective donors to volunteer for testing, Bonfils tested over 131 volunteers; setting as a record for Bonfils bone marrow testing drives. When the supply of kits had been exhausted, those still waiting in line were directed to the nearest Bonfils Blood Bank facility

 

Many, many local businesses and residents contributed to the huge success of this event.

The day closed with music by the band, Jakarta, and dancing for exercise enjoyed by

Moms, dads, kids who had enjoyed the day learning more about important.....and fun ways to stay healthy.