Opelousas General Health System Joins the American Heart Association to provide recess equipment to a local St. Landry Parish School

Opelousas General Health System has teamed up with the American Heart Association to support the Healthy For Good™ movement and Heart Walk®.

Research has shown that if a child is overweight by their 12th birthday, there is a 70% chance that child will be overweight the rest of their life. The simple truth is that healthy (and unhealthy) behaviors form early.

Today, about 2/3 of kids and half of adults still don’t get enough physical activity. To further complicate matters, school budgets are shrinking and many schools in our community are unable to provide the necessary recess and PE equipment to support the AHA’s recommendation of 60 minutes of daily physical activity. We can change that with the help of our Recess Reboot community partners like Opelousas General Health System.

This Recess Reboot partnership provided much needed P.E. equipment to Grolee Elementary School to ensure that they would have the resources available to promote physical activity and a healthy life style to those who may not have the opportunity otherwise. The equipment included 100 basketballs, 100 jump ropes, 50 playground balls and a $200 gift certificate for the purchase of additional recess equipment.

“Opelousas General Health System is proud to join with the American Heart Association ensuring that our future leaders are encouraged to go outside and stay active. This focused effort confirms our ongoing commitment and dedication to the prevention, education and treatment of heart disease,” said Kenneth Cochran, CEO of Opelousas General Health System.

Opelousas General and the American Heart Association kicked off their partnership this fall. As chairman, Kenneth Cochran, CEO of Opelousas General Health will spend the next several months leading community fundraising efforts by securing sponsorship and corporate/individual participation and working closely with the Executive Leadership Team to drive success. This year, the American Heart Association and volunteer leadership has a fundraising goal of $145,000.

Combining fitness and philanthropy, this annual walk brings together corporate sponsors, walk teams, individual walkers, survivors of heart disease and stroke and lifestyle change heroes who are all taking steps toward a healthier lifestyle while raising funds to combat heart disease and stroke. Proceeds go toward research, education and community programs.

“Together we can all benefit from this valuable partnership. It will give us a regional opportunity to provide the knowledge and treatment to keep our families healthy for years to come,” said Kenneth Cochran, CEO of Opelousas General Healthy System.

Local sponsors of the Greater Acadiana Heart Walk include Opelousas General, PHI, Gachassin Law Firm, and Radiology Associates of Opelousas and will be held on March 24, 2018 at Couret Farms in Upper Lafayette. For further information, please call (225) 666-4297 or visit www.greateracadianaheartwalk.org.