03 Oct PHCF Hosts Healthy Train Express
The Pondera HealthCare Foundation (PHCF) recently hosted the Healthy Train Express, a health fair for students, grade 4th – 6th, and their parents. BNSF Railway was a financial supporter for this worthwhile event.
The Foundation decided to sponsor the Healthy Train Express, through data from the Community Health Improvement Study, the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, and the Pondera Medical Center’s (PMC) Needs Assessment Survey. Data showed that certain youth behaviors and habits, whether physical activity, diet, mental and physical wellbeing, can give rise to disorders and diseases when the child is in adulthood.
After a conversation that a PHCF board member, Dede Brown, had in January with Conrad Schools Superintendent, Sharyl Allen, it was decided to move forward with a plan for a youth health fair. With input from Allen, along with Cynthia Grubb, and several other PMC professionals, also Steve Baliko, Diana Agre, Pondera Health Department’s Nicki Sullivan, and several PHCF volunteers, the tracks were laid for the Healthy Train Express. Co-Chairperson, Linda O’Brien, brought life to the train theme utilizing the space in the school’s Prairie View Building.
Station “Engineers” who helped bestow healthy messages to Conrad, Valier and County homeschool students included employees from several departments at PMC, such as Respiratory, Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy; Emergency and Nutritional Services; Marketing; and Radiology. Others stations included: Conrad Public School, Pondera Health Department, Pondera Mental Health Advisory Board, Jim and Trish Day, Golden Triangle Gymnastics, Diana Agre with Gateway Recovery, Pondera Extension Homemakers, Jackie Berg, and AltaCare. As the groups of students rotated through the stations, Conrad FFA members were designated as the “Conductors” in charge of their travelers.
The event’s main sponsor, BNSF Railway, was present with their “Operation Lifesaver” video booth. Other donors involved Katherine Miser, George Tornga, Town Pump Hotel Group of Montana, Conrad Schools, Valier Schools, and Mountain View Co-op.
Dozens of prizes for youth and parents were handed out in a ceremony on the UMS playground. Drawings were held for a bicycle for one lucky girl and boy in each grade. Helmets for all bikes were donated by Katherine Miser.
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