Photo By Rajah Bose
The Group Health Foundation brought 1,000 5th and 6th graders from seven title one schools in Spokane to experience ice skating during the 2010 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
“This is a fantastic opportunity provided to these kids by Group Health,” said Peter Ellis coordinator of fitness & health for Spokane Public Schools. “Many of these children have never stepped foot inside the arena for an event, let alone being able to see these world class athletes competing in our nation’s most prestigious figure skating event right in their home town.”
Ellis added, “We’d love to see more organizations like Group Health take such an invested interest in the future health and wellness of Spokane’s kids. Not only has Group Health provided tickets for this event, but they’ve committed their doctors, physical therapists, and nutritionists to spend time in the schools promoting healthy living. Together with Spokane Schools, Group Health is demonstrating a community effort to educate kids for a lifetime of health.”
Kids from Garfield, Grant, Holmes, Logan, Longfellow, Sheridan, and Stevens schools cheered on the junior men short, skate program and received goodie bags filled with their school color pom-poms, free passes to the Riverfront Park Ice Palace and healthy snacks.
Group Health is returning as the official medical sponsor of the 2010 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. This year Group Health is bringing more than 70 clinicians from its own medical group and the Spokane medical community together to provide medical care to approximately 700 elite athletes, coaches and officials who make the championships a reality.
“Group Health is not only providing care to the elite athletes, but we introducing 1,000 children to the fun and excitement of championship skating. We hope they will want to try out skating themselves, and find another way that physical activity is fun, and makes them healthier,” said Laura Rehrmann, president of the Group Health Foundation. “By introducing children to health and fitness at an early stage in their life we can make an impact an on how they grow into active and healthy adults.”
