“LEAP Across the Bridge” Walkathon & Health Fair a huge success

May 17, 2010

Nearly 300 students, parents, and community members from LEAP, Rutgers, and Camden City participated in LEAP Academy’s first ever community walk and Health Fair on May 15th, which raised college scholarship money and raised health awareness for youth in the city. 

With donations still being received, so far the “LEAP Across the Bridge” Walkathon & Health Fair has raised over $7,200 for the Alfredo Santiago Scholarship, which provides financial aid to LEAP graduates attending Rutgers University. 

The event was organized by the Rutgers CSUCL’s Family Support Center as part of its mission to provide academic, health, and human services to families and students at LEAP and in Camden City.  The LEAP Parents Council and 21th Century Community Learning Center also coordinated the event. 

Beginning at 8:30 that morning, 127 participants made the three-mile roundtrip walk from LEAP Elementary across the Ben Franklin Bridge pedestrian crossing.  Immediately following the walk 275 students, families, and staff members gathered at LEAP Elementary’s playground for the Rutgers/LEAP Family Support Center’s annual community health fair.  

A live DJ filled the playground with music as guests moved between a number of health kiosks that contained health information on topics like childhood obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, and nutrition.  The fair also offered family entertainment activities like face painting, jewelry making, and exercise programs. 

Professionals from the American Heart Association and Cooper Family Medicine attended the event to offer health information.  Meanwhile, contributions from Aramark and Wegmans provided refreshments and LEAP School Business Administrator Kenneth Verrill sponsored t-shirts for the walkathon. 

“It was a truly wonderful event,” said Gladys Robreno, Senior Administrator for the CSUCL’s Family Support Center.  “We accomplished our goals to bring LEAP together as one community, one family, while improving the health of our community and raising a significant amount of money for a great cause.” 

Going forward, the CSUCL will host the Walkathon & Health Fair each spring in order to complement the annual scholarship fundraising efforts of the Rutgers/LEAP Gala and to continue to support LEAP graduates in their college pursuits.