Grosse Pointe Woods

North student club gets state endorsement for promoting fitness

By April Lehmbeck
C & G Staff Writer

GROSSE POINTE WOODS — A group of students at North found a way to marry environmental health with physical fitness, and their efforts are getting noticed.

Grosse Pointe North’s environmental club, Students Against Violations of the Environment, or S.A.V.E., is sponsoring the S.A.V.E. A LIFE 5k in April. The event is meant to bring awareness to the human health component of environmental issues.

The project has garnered the attention of the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Sports, which endorsed the event. Because of the recognition of the Governor’s Council, the 5k is part of the Pure Michigan FITness Series endorsement program.

“By endorsing local events all across the state, we hope to bring attention to the importance of physical activity and encourage our citizens to take responsibility for their health,” President and CEO of the Governor’s Council Marilyn Lieber stated in a press release. “These local events can have a tremendous impact on health care costs that present a significant challenge for our state’s economy.”

The 5k is scheduled for 10 a.m. April 28. The course will move through neighborhoods near the high school in Grosse Pointe Woods.

The event’s goal is to raise awareness about the environment and physical health, but it also will raise money for a good cause.

Proceeds will be used to support leukemia research through the Children’s Hospital of Michigan Foundation.

The event caught the notice of the Governor’s Council because it stands out as a program that encourages healthy activities for Michigan residents.

Christopher Skowronski, the environmental science teacher at North and sponsor of the environmental club, said he is looking forward to working with the students to create an annual event with this program that residents, students and others will anticipate each year.

“With childhood obesity, diabetes and other chronic diseases on the rise, it is important for the students of Grosse Pointe North High School to realize the importance of physical fitness,” he said in an email. “By hosting the S.A.V.E. A LIFE 5k run/walk, students, staff and local residents will participate in an event that will lead them down the road to a healthy lifestyle and (to) make better health choices.

“In addition, the proceeds of the race will go towards leukemia research at Children’s Hospital of Michigan Foundation and their ‘Celebration of Life’ event, which is a party for pediatric patients who survived cancer and their families,” he added. “Building community and celebrating the good things in life is what we are all about, and these are the cornerstones of our Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness Certification.”

This isn’t the only program that encourages running and physical fitness in the schools.

“We are encouraging all of our schools to participate as part of their Michigan Green Schools applications,” Grosse Pointe Schools Community Specialist and Green Team co-chair Rebecca Fannon stated in a press release. “Several of our elementary schools’ running clubs, known as the Fishflies, are using this as a target event for the spring season.”

To register for the run, visit www.signmeup.com and search for “s.a.v.e.”

You can reach C & G Staff Writer April Lehmbeck at alehmbeck@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1043.