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The Valparaiso University
men’s soccer program is teaming up with St. Lucian reggae artist Taj Weekes and
his children’s charity, They Often Cry Outreach (TOCO), to help launch the “Sneakers Not Wheelchairs” campaign - a public health initiative that will target the diabetes
crisis in St. Lucia. The Crusaders will conduct a fundraiser during the
home opener at Brown Field on September 6th at 5:00 p.m. against
nationally-ranked Michigan.
The “Sneakers Not
Wheelchairs” campaign is a direct reference to the growing diabetes
epidemic in St. Lucia, which owns the highest rate of diabetes per capita in
the world and where there is reportedly an estimated two amputations per day
due to diabetes-related illnesses. Many become shut-ins because they
are wheelchair bound, so the “Sneakers not Wheelchairs” campaign
encourages St. Lucians to get up, put on their sneakers and exercise
rather than become part of this alarming statistic.
TOCO is a U.S.-based not-for-profit organization
founded by St. Lucian reggae artist Taj Weekes and is dedicated
to improving the lives of underprivileged, at-risk and orphaned children in the
Caribbean through sport, enrichment, educational and wellness programs. TOCO
HEALTH targets the diabetes crisis in St. Lucia which
can only be described as epidemic.
During Diabetes Awareness Month in November, TOCO will bring blood glucose
meters, test strips, educational and nutritional materials and several
volunteer doctors to St. Lucia
for a health fair and Annual Fun Walk to promote health and exercise in St. Lucia and
encourage St. Lucians to opt for “Sneakers not Wheelchairs”. The goal of the “Sneakers not Wheelchairs” campaign is to raise awareness
of this epidemic by getting kids to play soccer, eat right, and eventually
eliminate diabetes in St.
Lucia permanently.
The Valparaiso
men’s soccer program first became involved with TOCO early in the 2008 season
when it received an e-mail from the organization asking for donations of used
soccer equipment. At the same time, head
coach Mike Avery had recently
returned from a trip to the Caribbean, where he had witnessed first-hand many
of the conditions that TOCO was created to help fight. The Crusader players and coaches decided to
support TOCO by sending the organization some of its older equipment, forming a
partnership that has grown over the past year.
"We
are very excited to team up with Taj Weekes and TOCO to support the wonderful 'Sneakers not Wheelchairs' initiative,”
said Avery. “Soccer and music are two of the most powerful change agents
in the world, and it is exciting for our little soccer team to play a small
role in bringing TOCO's vision into reality. I hope many people in the Valparaiso community will come out to support us against a
good Michigan
team next Sunday, but will also take the chance to help TOCO make a lasting
difference in people's lives."
The fundraiser at the
home opener will help TOCO purchase supplies for November’s mission
trip. The program is waiving the standard admission charge for the
game against the Wolverines, and will instead be taking cash and check
donations to help purchase new medical supplies to help provide resources to
the population affected with diabetes.
Fans may also bring any new, packaged medical supplies, as well as
gently used soccer equipment, that they wish to donate to the cause. The Crusaders will continue to accept any
donations throughout the season as well as they continue their partnership with
TOCO into the 2009 season and beyond.
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