Copyright © 2003 NLThomas
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ROCKY MOUNTAIN, OKLAHOMA - The Cherokee Nation selected Rocky Mountain 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.

Rocky Mountain School used the $70,000 in grant money to furnish a new fitness center.

"This is a great thing for our community", said Terry Mayes, superintendent of Rocky Mountain School. "We are pleased that the Cherokee Nation awarded us this grant to buy the equipment for this center. Not only does this benefit the community, but our children as well."

Rocky Mountain School converted their bus barn into a fitness center with weight machines, treadmills, stationary bicycles and walking machines.

"I love this new facility", said Kelli Murphy, resident of the Rocky Mountain area. "I have diabetes and high blood pressure and I appreciate coming to use these machines. If I were at home I wouldn’t exercise, this give me a reason to get out and do something good for myself."

Community residents must fill out an enrollment form to use the fitness center and it is open to the community Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. -11:30 a.m. and again from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m, Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Sundays from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. During school hours, the facility is used for physical education training for the 6th through 8th grades.

"This exercise equipment helps us to get in better shape, both physically and mentally for next years basketball, football and track season", said Kyle LeMasters, 8th grader at Rocky Mountain schools. "It makes P.E. more fun."

Rocky Mountain School will also be offering an aerobics course to the community beginning on Monday March 10th in the evening.

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.

For more information on enrollment in the Rocky Mountain School fitness center or the upcoming aerobics course please contact Margaret Gourd, facility coordinator, phone: 918-696-7509.

Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager Cherokee Nation - Public Affairs Phone 918-456-0671 (Ex.2324) E-mail: ldaugherty@cherokee.org

Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation Natural Resources Specialist Phone: 918-456-0671 (ex.2843) E-mail: bpeak@cherokee.org Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma Attn: (Department Name) P.O. Box 948, Tahlequah, OK 74465 Telephone: 918-456-0671 (Toll Free OK) 1-800-256-0671