Benett, 15, leads Health Ride to fight child obesity

ANA-LISSA JACK

Danieyelle Benett, 15, founder of Preventing Obesity in Youth Worldwide, has merged her love for cycling with the need to raise awareness of childhood obesity in Trinidad and Tobago. Last weekend, the non-governmental organisation held its 5th Health Ride and Motorcade from St Mary’s Home in Tacarigua to Salybia Beach Resort.

“It is our chance yearly to make a change,” Benett said. She explained the event was conceptualised when she was 10 years old and discovered that Trinidad and Tobago was ranked among the top 10 most obese nations in North America and the Caribbean.

“In my research I found out that one in four students in secondary schools are overweight or obese and that’s when I decided we must have this event. I started doing triathlons and I noticed others who were participating in the sport for fitness, so I thought I should use this sport to help others lead a healthier lifestyle,” she said.

The organisation hosts two major events yearly – a health ride which began five years ago and a cardiac burnout which was added two years ago.

The 50 km ride began at 6.30am and ended at approximately 11am at the Salybia Beach Resort. Many sponsors were along the way to provide the riders with refreshments and help the public understand what the event was about.

Benett said the group, Preventing Obesity in Youth Worldwide, helps raise awareness of childhood obesity throughout the year.

“I call childhood obesity an epidemic in this country, because it has somewhat become a norm in society. It is being taken too lightly and the statistics have grown over the past five years.” She hopes that through the health ride and the newly added cardiac burnout, a visible difference can be made.“Persons need to be comfortable with how they look, however, being healthy on paper is equally important.”

The ride to Salybia involved two stops in Arima and Sangre Grande, where school children and other participants distributed flyers and educated persons on obesity. Massages and refreshments were also provided to the cyclists at these stops.

Upon completion of the bike ride, officials of the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs and Ministry of Health were present to conduct demonstrations. Other non-governmental health organisations took part in a mini health fair where disease testing was conducted and healthy food and drink samples were given out. Games were set up while others relaxed in the pool.

“We’ve set up various games for the children, so it’s a nice way to end the day after pushing ourselves through the ride,” Benett said.

She noted that many government and corporate entities were involved in the event and their presence showed that there is interest in the issue. She was also pleased to see schools get involved in the initiative yearly.

The health ride attracted cyclists from Tobago as well as international cyclists, mainly from Europe. Benett also participates in international events to raise awareness of childhood obesity in TT.