On any given night in New Britain, during this economic downturn, there are several businesses which can’t keep up with their orders. These customers are the consumers of Dominos, Taco Bell and the infamous McDonald’s fast food chains. With the amount of individuals who are overweight and out of shape in this society, it’s no surprise to see this happening as you drive by.
Watching television talk shows on any given day people can see the numerous young children who suffer from obesity from having improper diets. Being fed fast food daily can cause health problems at an early age that will lead to many complex weight disorders later on in life.
Issues of personal weight aren’t the only problems in the area of medical health. We have STDs, cancer, diabetes and an endless list of problems which can go on for longer than this entire edition of the paper. With all that we’ve seen from this culture in the last twenty years you can certainly feel the pressure from all sides to become a healthier country. It should be everyone’s goal to eat healthier, exercise and live longer.
This goal can only be achieved by today’s youth. The informed college student can start to make conscious health decisions before it’s too late. This is a perfect time to do it. Being surrounded by your peers can promote what you do on a daily basis. Make those around you work out with you, not eat McDonald’s at night and help raise money for something like cancer research.
Being more knowledgeable on the topic of proper dieting can transfer to future generations that, let’s face it, will be in the hands of the parents who give birth to them to teach them of what they should or shouldn’t eat.
Clubs and groups on campus have already started to do this. With the car club’s fall show raising $1900 for the American Heart Association it proves that passions that you enjoy can be transformed into ways of fundraising for a good cause.It goes to show that a little commitment can go a good distance in the fight to combat health issues that Americans deal with on a daily basis.
Mimicking the presence that the NFL, NHL and MLB have with supporting the fight against breast cancer and other cancers, our own Blue Devil sports teams have started to donate their time and efforts to raise money for research. Basketball, volleyball, and football have all raised money.
The men’s basketball team took part in the Memory Walk in support of the Alzheimer’s Association and raised $730. The football team’s coaches have been taking part in a Coach to Cure initiative that raises money and awareness for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The women’s volleyball team is hosting a Dig!Pink event against Quinnipiac on Oct. 23 in support of breast cancer. The team has pledged to raise $500 for the cause. While these amounts might at first seem small, they are beneficial in the long run. The standard set by the athletes is wonderful, but they could certainly use the help of our entire student body.
Of course, lending your time and money to an on-campus event is easy. Don’t be afraid to venture off campus and participate in area fundraisers. This weekend in Hartford is the 2010 Hartford Start! Heart Walk benefiting the American Heart Assocation. The goal is to raise $500,000 for heart research and they could certainly use the help from many more to reach this goal.
How much time would it actually take to walk a three-mile loop? For a small amount of time and an optional amount of money, you can help raise awareness for something that is very important. No one should ever second guess giving their time for something that may extend their life or someone else’s life in the future.
You may not need help with your heart at the moment, but something can happen at any moment, and you’re going to want help when need it. Donate your time now and thank yourself later.