The public can vote online until April 25 to select the student winner of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan's contest.
ELK RAPIDS -- An Elk Rapids student is helping promote a healthier state in a video competition and you can help her spread the message!
Kate LeLone, an eighth grader from Cherryland Middle School is one of five finalists chosen for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan's "Make the Play for Healthy Habits" video contest.
The winner will be decided by public votes on aHealthierMichigan.org/kidcontest - so log online and post your support! Voting continues through April 25 at 12am.
The winner will be announced on May 7.
The winning student will go on to star as a guest video blogger on aHealthierMichigan.org and his or her school will receive a school assembly with Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions quarterback.
The program was inspired by 10-year-old Marshall Reid from North Carolina, who documented his fight against childhood obesity through "Portion Size Me" videos.
Video submissions answered the question: "What would you do to make Michigan healthier?" and include how to live a healthy life, starting with the student, their family and/or their classroom, and how to communicate healthy lifestyle choices with families and students.
The contest adds a new dimension to the Blues' efforts to combat childhood obesity by encouraging kids to share their ideas using creativity and new media. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), childhood obesity has both immediate and long-term effects on health and well-being. Schools play a particularly critical role by establishing a safe and supportive environment with policies and practices that support healthy behaviors. Schools also provide opportunities for students to learn about and practice healthy eating and physical activity behaviors.
