Press Releases: 2007

2007 Healthy Hoops® Spring Fest Offers Asthma Relief

Asthma Outreach Program Helps to Put Symptoms to Rest

Columbia, SC – The blustery winds of March are bringing more than springtime into the air.  Tree sap and pollen is causing discomfort for many of Richland County’s 18,000 asthma sufferers.  And because children suffer the most from asthma, Healthy Hoops® asthma management program offers relief and helps to put symptoms to rest with the 2007 Healthy Hoops® Spring Fest.  Select Health of South Carolina together with Eau Claire Cooperative Health Centers, Inc. AmeriHealth Mercy, and the Healthy Hoops® Coalition will host a day of asthma screenings, health screenings, asthma education, and basketball activities on March 31st from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the City of Columbia Department of Parks and Recreation’s Greenview Park, 6700 David Street.

The Healthy Hoops® Spring Fest is a free event for the entire family.  There will also be live entertainment, giveaways, and lunch is provided.  “The really cool thing about the Spring Fest is that it’s a free, fun event that engages families to learn more about asthma management and live a healthier lifestyle,” says J. Michael Jernigan, President and CEO of Select Health of South Carolina. 

“A partnership that allows us to spread the message about the importance of fitness and nutrition to a child’s quality of life is a valuable effort,” says Bobby Goodwin, Recreation Superintendent, City of Columbia Department of Parks and Recreation. “Living with asthma does not have to restrict a child from participating in the many sports programs that we offer as many families will learn through this program.”

The Spring Fest precedes the Healthy Hoops® Fall Basketball Challenge– a free one-day basketball camp that’s held annually and teaches children with asthma and their families how to manage the disease through appropriate medication usage, proper nutrition, monitored exercise and recreational activities.  In addition to focusing on asthma management, Healthy Hoops® targets decreasing childhood obesity and increasing cardiovascular activity, particularly in children with asthma. 

The 2006 Fall Challenge was held in the Midlands at the University of South Carolina with Coaches Dave Odom, Susan Walvius, and Tammy Holder together with Coach Speedy Morris of St. Joseph Prep and Coach Brian Daly of the AllBall! Organization.  Of the 525 attendees, 150 were children with asthma, and 365 were parents, guardians, siblings, and community volunteers.  Since the launch of the South Carolina Healthy Hoops® Program in 2005, over 200 children with asthma have been provided with life saving asthma health information and resources.  This year’s program is expected to reach even more families during the 2007 March 31st Spring Fest and Fall Challenge that will be held in September.  Date and location tbd.  

 The AllBall! Organization, which is based out of Philadelphia, will provide basketball activities and instruction for the Healthy Hoops® Spring Fest March 31st playdate.  Pre-registration is free and available by calling 1.866.HOOPS.SC.  An adult must accompany attendees.  For additional information, visit www.selecthealthofsc.com/community/healthyhoops.com. 

ABOUT SELECT HEALTH
Select Health of South Carolina has been serving families in South Carolina for over a decade. As the state’s most experienced and largest provider of Medicaid medical homes, the Select Health insurance plan, First Choice, serves over 76,000 members in 36 South Carolina counties. Select Health is a wholly owned subsidiary of AmeriHealth Mercy. To learn more about Select Health, visit www.selecthealthofsc.com.

ABOUT THE Healthy Hoops® COALITION
The Healthy Hoops® Coalition is a partnership between national and regional private sector and non-profit organizations. Serving as a steering committee for the Healthy Hoops® Program, the coalition is made up of volunteers from AllBall! Organization, American Lung Association, Boys and Girls Club of the Midlands, Brookland Baptist Church, Cleveland Street Family YMCA of Greenville, City of Columbia Department of Parks and Recreation, Eau Claire Cooperative Health Centers, Family Connection of South Carolina, Franklin C. Fetter Family Health Center, Greenville Hospital Systems, Greenville Tech, Hope World Wide, IMARA Woman Magazine, Office of Minority Health/DHEC, Potential Sports Academy, Reedy River Missionary Baptist Church, Richland County School District One, Schering-Plough, SC Asthma Alliance, SC Association of School Nurses and SC Society for Respiratory Care.