Miramichi Blog

Mango to offer final session September 8

Our community’s Mango program is offering the final session of its popular pedometer program, Stepping Out with Mango, starting the week of September 8. To register yourself or your workplace, call 627-7564. Interested participants can register at a community location or sign up with their workplace. Mango is encouraging anyone who ever participated in the program since 2006 to return with their pedometer and take part in this last session.

In existence for two years, Stepping Out with Mango is a 12-week program which has been offered to members of the public and workplaces. The program is designed to help people increase their daily physical activity. Each participant gets a pedometer- a tiny instrument that counts every step the person takes. At the end of the day, participants will record the number of steps they took. Each week they will be able to set new goals for themselves and gradually try to increase their daily steps over the 12-week period.

In addition to wearing the pedometer, participants also attend four 30-minute group support meetings facilitated by a trained program leader. In these meetings, the group will be encouraged to determine weekly goals and progress will be shared. Participants will receive tips on how to be more active and ways to increase their steps. Participants also have the benefit of a nutritional session with a registered dietitian.

When Mango first launched Stepping Out with Mango in September 2008, they put in place a two-year plan to offer the program seven times throughout that time frame in the communities around our region and in workplaces. Mango’s goal was to gather at least 1,200 participants throughout the communities and to offer sessions in 10 workplaces.

Those numbers were surpassed as the Stepping Out with Mango program has seen 1,683 people to date put on a pedometer and get stepping with the program. Also, 59 workplaces have taken advantage of the program and offered it as a workplace wellness tool in their place of employment.

Mango purchased the Stepping Out program from Vitality Moncton. The City of Moncton offers this program to its citizens as well. Mango was looking for a walking program to offer the residents of this region. This program is beneficial to help the public to begin a walking program, maintain what they are doing, or increase their physical activity.

Mango is committed to fighting overweight and obesity in the Miramichi region by offering initiatives dedicated to increasing physical activity levels and encouraging healthy eating to the residents of the region.

Labels: health, Mango, wellness

Mango names first child ‘Champion of the Community’


Grade 2 student Dylan Howe has been named Mango’s latest Champion of the Community. Dylan has Type 1 Diabetes. He was diagnosed when he was five years old.

“We are pleased to recognize Dylan with our Mango Champion of the Community recognition,” says Mango coordinator and dietician Jacqueline Noseworthy. Dylan has had to make lifestyle changes because of his diabetes, she adds.

Mango’s latest initiative, Mango Champion of the Community sees Mango recognizing and profiling members of the region who are living as Mango encourages the community to live: eating well and being active.

Dylan’s Story

Dylan attends Croft Elementary School. He is a Type 1 Diabetic. Type 1 diabetes occurs when certain specialized parts of the pancreas, known as islet cells, are destroyed and no longer produce insulin.

When first diagnosed, he used to need five needles per day. Then he received a new insulin pump. Now, he has a needle every three or four days to change the site of the pump.

His days are filled with watching what he eats. “Every day I count my carbs (carbohydrates) and my mom gives me so much insulin for the carbs I eat,” Dylan says. “It is important for me to eat a balanced diet that includes starch, protein, fruits and vegetables, and milk.”

It also helps for Dylan to be active, but when very active, he does have to continuously test his sugars to avoid them going low.

Dylan’s mother, Lisa, says he takes his diabetes very seriously. “He doesn’t complain and likes to talk to groups and others about what he is going through,” Lisa says. And Dylan’s future is simple for him. “I hope someday there will be a cure for it, but for now all I can do is try my best to keep it under control.”

Mango’s Champion of the Community is brought to you by McDonald’s restaurants: working with Mango to recognize healthy champions in our community.

Mango is a population-health based community program that promotes healthy eating and active living throughout the region. Its’ goal is to decrease overweight and obesity by 10% by the year 2008 through initiatives such as this one.

Labels: Mango, youth

Overwhelming registration for Mango Kids Fun Run

Over 700 children are now registered for the Mango Kids Fun Run happening July 8.

This fun run completes the Go for 42 program which took place in area schools from May 14-June 11. This program saw children from kindergarten to grade 8 completing a 40 km of a marathon over a 4-week period. The final 2.2 km of the marathon will take place July 8.

Children completed the first 40 km of this marathon with their classmates and teachers. For each 5 km they walked or jogged, the children received colorful shoe tags. The children had to pre-register for the final run on July 8 with their parent’s signature.

The fun run will begin at the Lindon Recreation Centre where registration for the event will begin at 9:30. It will follow King George Highway up to intersection by the House of Wong. Turning left, it will continue and turn left onto Pleasant Street. The children will continue down Pleasant by the City Hall to McCullum Street and ending at the Kin Centre.

Many partners have worked together to bring this initiative to the Miramichi region. They are: Mango, Partners for a Drug Free Miramichi, MACY, NB Medical Society, Miramichi Police, School District 16, Dept of Wellness, Culture and Sport, MAPP. Aliant is also sponsoring the event by providing medals for each child finishing the July 8 run.

“This is a great example of the community coming together to encourage our children to be active,” says Jacqueline Noseworthy, Mango coordinator and dietitian. “We are pleasantly surprised with the number of participants who have registered for the event on July 8.”

Noseworthy says she is proud of the children and their parents for seeing a need to be physically active, no matter what age. “Mango is in the schools with the Mango Mania challenges and now the Go for 42, we are seeing many kids starting to take on the responsibility of putting physical activity into their daily lives. That’s a great thing.”

The Mango Kids Fun Run coordinating committee would like to advise participants of several points of important information before the event on July 8.

If your child is pre-registered, they must pick up your registration kit and t-shirt on July 8 at the Lindon Recreation Centre between 9:30 am until 10:45am.

Race begins at 11am
Only children who pre-registered at their school will receive a free t-shirt
All children who finish the race will receive a medal
Parents: please do not remove your child from the run until they cross the finish line, unless you inform one of the fun run volunteers.
No bikes allowed along run route
Children should remember to apply sun screen, wear appropriate footwear and bring a water bottle.
Parents must be at the finish line to pick up their children. The approximate time for the event will be 20-40 minutes.

The public is encouraged to gather along the fun run route to cheer on the children. For more information, please call the Mango office at 627-7564.

Labels: Mango, youth

New Mango Champion an inspiration to others

Mango’s new Champion of the Community is seen as inspiration to her peers.

Veronica Connolly is a TOPS (take off pounds sensibly) leader and she was recently awarded the honour of First Place Winner in this area. The Nelson resident was nominated by her peers because of her continued commitment to her own health.

“We heard Veronica’s story and wanted to recognize her. She has had some tragic events in her life, but has used them to help her succeed in her weight loss. We are happy to share her story,” says Jacqueline Noseworthy, Mango coordinator and dietician.

Mango’s initiative, Mango Champion of the Community sees Mango recognizing and profiling members of the region who are living as Mango encourages the community to live: eating well and being active.

Veronica’s story

Veronica is a TOPS leader in Newcastle. For many years, she taught clogging to the public and was always physically active. She ate well and followed the Canada’s Food Guide. After two deaths in her family, she found that she was eating more and gaining weight. She stopped teaching clogging and began quilting and her physical activity level decreased dramatically.

“After my son died, I weighed 233 pounds in 1996.” Then, after hearing from her family doctor that she had a problem with her heart, she thought to herself, “I count too.”

She made a decision to improve her health. She joined a local gym and returned to the TOPS plan which follows the Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating. She incorporated foods from all food groups and increased her consumption of fruits and vegetables.

“I have more energy now and I’m feeling better. I’ve lost 65 pounds since February 2006.”

She has given motivation to her family and has inspired her TOPS group members thus being awarded TOPS club’s first place winner for her weight loss. When accepting her award on April 21, she delivered this poem:

Self Love Moves Pounds

One day I got a thinking
About the shape I’m in
And realized I needed help
If I were to be thin

It was then I remembered
My TOPs pals of ore
And my mind was made up
To eat junk food no more

Mango’s Champion of the Community is brought to you by McDonald’s restaurants: working with Mango to recognize healthy champions in our community.

Mango is a population-health based community program that promotes healthy eating and active living throughout the region. Its’ goal is to decrease overweight and obesity by 10% by the year 2008 through initiatives such as this one.

Labels: Mango, Success Story, wellness

Third session of Stepping Out starting soon

The Mango program begins its third session of its popular pedometer program the week of May 7.

Stepping Out with Mango is a 12-week program which will be offered to all members of the public and is accessible in the communities of Newcastle, Chatham, Douglastown, Rogersville, Néguac, and Baie Ste. Anne. This program is designed to help people increase their physical activity.

Stepping Out with Mango first started in September 2006 with a flurry of people filling community halls and workplace lunch rooms to join the program to help increase their physical activity. In January 2007, another session seen hundreds of people clip on the tiny instruments and getting physically active despite cold winter temperatures.

Now, the week of May 7, a new group of Stepping Out followers will hit the streets and the fitness facilities in an effort to increase their own physical activity.

“Since September, we’ve had over 800 people join our Stepping Out with Mango initiative and we couldn’t be happier,” says Mango Coordinator Jacqueline Noseworthy. “We are extremely impressed with the number of people that are making the commitment to join a program designed to increase their physical activity and help keep them motivated. The response has been overwhelming.”

As a participant in the program, each person receives a pedometer- a tiny instrument that counts every step the person takes. At the end of the day, participants record the number of steps they take. Each week they set new goals for themselves and gradually try to increase their daily steps over the 12-week period.

In addition to wearing the pedometer, participants also attend five 30-minute group support meetings facilitated by a trained program leader. In these meetings, the group is encouraged to determine weekly goals and progress is shared. Participants receive tips on how to be more active and ways to increase their steps. There is also nutrition sessions offered in the communities.

“Stepping Out with Mango is a program that can be easily used by an individual, family or workplace.”

To register for the session nearest you, to offer this program in your workplace, or for more information, please contact the Mango office at 627-7564.

Mango is a population-health based community program that promotes healthy eating and active living throughout the region. Its’ goal is to decrease overweight and obesity by 10% by the year 2008 through initiatives such as this one.

Labels: health, Mango, program, wellness

MANGO - Working Together for the Health of our Community Workshop

Mar 28 - 29, 2007

Our community has been watching the increasing rates of diabetes, heart disease and obesity affect the overall health of our region. In 2002, the Miramichi Regional Health Authority implemented a community wellness program in our region: the MANGO program.

You are invited to hear our journey and explore ways to offer a wellness program in your community.

Who should attend?
All health care professionals, management and government agencies with an interest in wellness and a desire to work with, and improve the health of their community.

Location:
Rodd Miramichi River

To register:623-3502, Info.: 623-3553
Email: charlene.smith@rha.ca, jacqueline.noseworthy@rha7.ca

Labels: event, health, Mango, workshop

Lifestyle change gives Geikie more energy

Mango’s latest champion of the community is Gwen Geikie.

Geikie was nominated by her manager and described as a model for her co-workers. “Gwen’s nomination is exactly what we want to see when we choose our champions: making small lifestyle changes in order to see big results, ” says Mango coordinator and dietitian Jacqueline Noseworthy.

Mango’s initiative, Mango Champion of the Community sees Mango recognizing and profiling members of the region who are living as Mango encourages the community to live: eating well and being active.

Gwen’s Story

Geikie is an administrative support supervisor at the Extra-Mural Program of the Miramichi Regional Health Authority. In addition to losing 42 pounds since September 2006, she has become a role model to her co-workers and family.

“I was a big fan of eating junk food and would not eat a proper meal,” Geikie describes. “I wanted energy so that I didn’t go into a slump at two o’clock every day.”

Geikie started her journey to change her lifestyle habits by going to the gym each morning with her daughter. She put more fruits and vegetables into her diet and cut back on the amount of fat she consumes.

“I now have the motivation to go to the gym every morning with my three children.”

Want to nominate someone for Mango Champion of the Community?

Nominations for Mango’s Champion of the Community can be sent in several ways. Send us the nominees name and contact information by mail to Mango Champion of the Community, 500 Water St., Miramichi, NB E1V 3G5; by email to mango@rha7.ca or by fax to (506) 623-3502. Drop-boxes are also located in the Miramichi Regional Hospital lobby and both McDonald’s restaurants in Douglastown and Walmart. For more details, call 623-3503 or visit www.rha7.ca

Mango’s Champion of the Community is brought to you by McDonald’s restaurants: working with Mango to recognize healthy champions in our community.

Mango is a population-health based community program that promotes healthy eating and active living throughout the region. Its’ goal is to decrease overweight and obesity by 10% by the year 2008 through initiatives such as this one.

Labels: health, Mango, Success Story