|
news
Coolio supports
asthmatic children
By Ayako Ando
On-line Forty-Niner
More than 150 asthmatic
children participated in a track and field event, "Air
Power Games," Saturday at the Jack Rose Memorial Track
at Cal State Long Beach.
Coolio, the Grammy-award
winning and multi platinum selling rap artist appeared at
the 10th annual event, which was open to children ages 5 to
14.
"I came here
to see and talk to children who have asthma like I do,"
said Coolio.
The event was hosted
by the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America in conjunction
with CSULB.
"We want to
reach as many asthmatic children as possible to give them
an opportunity to exercise," said Cathy Pollak, a health
educator at the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America.
Pollak made contacts
with school doctors and nurses to inform them of the event.
CSULB students
from physical education classes also volunteered at the event.
All children who
participated in the event wore T-shirts they received at the
sign-in counter when competing with each other in the long
jump, shot put, softball throw, high jump and track races.
"Out goal
is to give asthmatic children confidence that they can join
in the athletic event," said James Davis, a professor
of kinesiology and physical education at CSULB and director
of the event.
A physician's booth
was set up for children who might have encountered health
problems that needed medical assistance after participating
in the games.
"We are ready
to take care of children with medicines and some medical equipment,
so they can fully enjoy the event," said Candace Remer,
allergy and immunology doctor at the booth.
Coolio said he
understood the need for events such as this.
"When I was
little, my family kept me away from any athletic events to
avoid asthmatic problems," he said. "So it's wonderful
to see these children participating in the athletic event,
and good for these children to be able to have this kind of
opportunity."
|
