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MUSC, Citadel join to bring health, fitness to children  by Chris West Public relations The Citadel and MUSC are in step to promote health for community children by sponsoring the Citadel Youth Wellness Festival on Oct. 27 at The Citadel campus. The wellness festival is expected to become an annual  event. Co-sponsored by MUSC’s Office of Diversity, the festival will address physical activity and the positive effects it can have on lifelong health. The idea was born one late afternoon when Thaddeus Bell, M.D., was on a jog with a friend at Hampton Park. “As we jogged by The Citadel side of the park, I noticed that as a facility it would be ideal to host a festival for children. I contacted The Citadel, they offered their campus and the ball just began rolling,” Bell said. So, why a festival on physical activity?  “I have always been concerned with children’s health issues,” said Bell. “The current state of children’s health as a result of inactivity may lead to obesity, diabetes and many other health problems. The hope is by instilling good physical activity habits this will promote good health later in life.” The festival hopes to send the message that activity can start at an early age and continue all the way through life. That message will be carried by something that all children are accustomed to— fun. “The goal is to show that activity can be fun for life,” Bell said. “And fun is a vessel that children will take to. They understand fun.” Bell says optimally the festival can accommodate 500 children, but in being its first year, it will probably lean more towards 200. “If we have 200 participants, that will be a success in the eyes of the festival,” he said. But the question arose, “Who will supervise all of the participants?” Again, The Citadel had an answer.  “The Citadel has really opened up to the festival in their support by lending their facilities, but the true outpouring of interest comes from the more than 100 cadets that have volunteered to take this on as a serious pet project,” Bell said. “And who better to coordinate the physical activities than 100 cadets? They’re pretty used to it.” The activities and presentations will be both physical and educational. Bell hopes that by this, the day will produce good habits in the kids, not just a day of play. “We just want the festival to promote habits that the kids can take home with them and practice,” he said. The outpouring of support has also come bountifully from local businesses with J.P. Murray & Company, Bell/Sclau and WCSC TV-Channel 5 co-sponsoring the event with MUSC and The Citadel. “It’s a win-win situation for everybody in that it proves the commitment of these companies and organizations to the local community,” Bell said. “It also solidifies MUSC’s ability to take on a collaborative project for the good of our young people. After all, a community is its young people.” The Citadel Youth Wellness Festival is free and open to children 5 to 14 years old. Registration starts at 7 a.m. with the festival starting at 8 a.m. Children must be accompanied by a parent to register and the first 500 participants will receive a free  T-shirt.  For additional information, call Adrienne Tuchman at 792-8484.