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LEACH, OKLAHOMA - The Cherokee Nation selected Leach School as one of seventeen schools to share in a $1 million Diabetes Prevention Grant. Schools that applied for the Cherokee Nation Diabetes Prevention Grant had to submit a plan for improving their existing physical activity program or starting a new one.

Leach school used the grant money to furnish a new fitness center.

"We're proud to get the grant from the Cherokee Nation," said Bruce Davis, superintendent of Leach school. "Our community members are really going to enjoy it, it's a great opportunity to socialize and improve physical fitness at the same time."

"I think it's great," said Darrell Dry, Leach school coach. "The students will become better athletes by being more physically fit."

"I'm glad to see someone taking an interest in our community," said Amy Israel of the Leach community. "I'm diabetic and I plan on using the facility."

The Cherokee Nation distributed the grant as a form of diabetes prevention among Native American people. Schools with a high number of Native American students were given top priority in the selection process.