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Dana Nickens, P.E. assistant for Maryetta School, shows off the new fitness equipment.

MARYETTA, OKLAHOMA - The Cherokee Nation is helping kids in Adair County start the school year with fun fitness activities. Maryetta School recently received a grant of $71,000 to aid in diabetes prevention thanks to the Cherokee Nation Diabetes Program.

"With the money crunch that is going on right now there would have been no way we could have purchased this new equipment without the help from the Cherokee Nation", said Rhonda Brown, Maryetta School counselor and programs coordinator.

Maryetta school purchased exercise equipment that would allow the child to get ‘back to the basics’ according to Brown.

"We purchased hoola hoops and jump ropes with the hopes of encouraging movement", said Dana Nickens, P.E. assistant for Maryetta School. "We also purchased juggling equipment to increase hand to eye coordination, which intrigues kids and makes them want to learn how to use the equipment. This way kids don’t have to be great athletes in order to do these activities."

The Cherokee Nation selected Maryetta 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. 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.

"We also used to money to recover our nature track for not only our students but for people in the community to use as well", Brown said. "This has been a wonderful grant. It will help our students and members of the community to get a little healthier."

Related contact information:

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

Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation Natural Resources Specialist Phone: 918-456-0671 (ex.2843) E-mail: bpeak@cherokee.org