Aug. 7, 2009

"Fit to Play, Fun for Life" Photo Gallery at Arcola Park

Coral Gables, Fla. - Members of the University of Miami football, women's basketball and volleyball teams took part in the "Fit to Play, Fun for Life" program Thursday, Aug. 6 at Arcola Park in Miami. Participating in Thursday's portion of the summer-long event designed to teach awreness of health were Jimmy Graham (football), Charmaine Clark (women's basketball) and Christine Williamson (volleyball).

For the second year in a row, the UM Athletic Department and the University of Miami Health System (UHealth) are lending support to the Miami-Dade Parks "Fit to Play, Fun for Life" summer camps being held at various parks throughout Miami-Dade county.

Student-athletes from various men's and women's sports participated in the events and shared testimonials regarding specific health issues they have experienced in their sport. Sports having taken part in the program included baseball, women's soccer, swimming & diving and men's basketball.

The Miami-Dade Parks "Fit to Play" program is designed to provide a safe place for kids to engage in a variety of sports and physical activities, laying the foundation for a healthy lifestyle. It is designed to teach kids good health habits in a fun environment, while addressing topics such as exercise and fitness, nutrition, stress management, tobacco prevention, injury prevention and safety information.

Through UM Health, medical students from the UM Miller School of Medicine set up health fairs at the five camp locations specifically designed for kids to provide them with overall wellness information. Topics addressed during the health fairs this summer included excerise and fitness, nutrition, stress management, tobacco prevention, injury prevention and safety information, sun protection and more.