PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — In the last year the Positive and Elektralyets Foundations have donated 16 pieces for outdoor fitness equipment to 5 Community Space locations on St. Maarten. The Community Spaces are in Belvedere, Cay Hill, Ebenezer, Suckergarden and at the Emilio Wilson Sports Corner on LB Scot Road.
The Equipment consists of 4 dorsal/pectoral. 2 surfs, 3 skates, 3 elliptical, 3 bicycles and 1 pony. The Equipment is painted blue and yellow and is recommended to be used by people 13 years and older.
The SMDF and St. Maarten Red Cross who were responsible for Development of the Community Spaces received and installed 12 pieces of the donated fitness equipment in the various community spaces last year.
Recently, The Positive and Elektralyets Foundations donated and installed the final 4 pieces consisting of 1 dorsal/pectoral,1 skate, 1 elliptical and 1 pony, at the Emilio Wilson Sports Corner. The U2 Can Move organization shared a portion of this installation costs.
“As an organization promoting fitness and healthy living, U 2 Can Move was happy to partner in this venture and we commend all those who assisted the Positive and Elektralyets Foundations in making this an island-wide initiative, founder of U 2 Can Move, MP Sarah Wescot commented.
“We cannot stress enough how important regular physical activity is alongside healthy eating and health check-ups and screenings. We can by our individual actions contribute to a healthier society for all.”
The Emilio Wilson Sports Corner is managed by the St. Maarten Football Federation. This community space goes hand-in-hand with what the Federation has envisioned for the Emilio’s Sports Corner. A space where the Sint Maarten community can come and exercise safely, as well as socialize with one another. Thank you to all involved in donating the fitness equipment, we hope that the community appreciates the investment made by using the equipment frequently, as well as keeping the space safe and clean.
The Positive and Elektralyets Foundations are known for their innovative and creative advocacy of breast and prostate cancer awareness on the St. Maarten and while there are no absolute ways to prevent these cancers the Foundations know that there are some things you can do to lower your risks. Maintaining a moderate body weight and getting regular exercise can play a key role.
Therefore, the foundations decided to donate the fitness equipment to the various Community Spaces. “Making the fitness equipment available and accessible could help to facilitate a healthier lifestyle in the various districts on St. Maarten as a whole. We are helping our community take a proactive approach in the fight against breast and prostate cancer and have fun while working out!” stated Shelly Alphonso and Mercedes Van Der Waals, presidents of the respective foundations.
Funding for the equipment came from various fundraising activities including CIBC FCIB Walk for Cure, Pink Sunset Sail and other donations from the business community.
The Foundations are very keen to help the community of St. Maarten and donating the fitness equipment is one of the ways in which the foundations are helping. Annually with support of their partners they organize innovative and creative monthly long Prostate and Breast Cancer Campaigns in September and October. The campaigns are geared towards motivating the men and women in our community to take early action to GET CHECKED, as early detection can help save lives in both Prostate and Breast Cancer.
In continuing with the campaigns for 2022, SMMC and the Positive and Elektralyets Foundations are hosting a Women’s Health Day on October 15th, 2022, from 9am to 3pm at SMMC. On that day women can get a free clinical breast examination and free mammograms, if warranted, for uninsured women. Other preventative free health screenings, geared towards general health awareness, will also be offered.
In addition to organizing a series of events for Prostate and Breast Cancer for September and October, the Foundations have partnered with the St. Maarten Laboratory Services to offer free prostate specific antigen tests (PSA) to uninsured men over the age of 40 years old. They have relaunched the breast abnormalities survey project in collaboration with the American University of the Caribbean (AUC) and Collective Prevention Services (CPS) This initiative, the breast abnormalities survey, begun in 2017, to identify breast abnormalities that can be risk factors for diseases of the breast as early as possible and to refer for further diagnosis and treatment. The target group is women 18 years and older and approximately 400 women have already participated in this project prior to the COVID 19 pandemic. The goal is to screen 1000 women to complete the project.
The screenings are scheduled for October 1st and 22nd and November 12th and 26th. They will be held at Collective Prevention Services (CPS) at the Vineyard Building, Philipsburg, from 9 am to 3pm. Participants are required to call +1-721-545-2298 ext. 4042357 or email aszeinfeld@aucmed.edu to make an appointment.
“We are grateful for the continued support of the business community of St. Maarten and our partners, and we look forward to their continued support so that together we can increase general health awareness for the benefit of men and women of St. Maarten”, said Shelly Alphonso and Mercedes Van Der Waals, Presidents of the Positive and Elektralyets Foundations.
