Moores camp promotes healthy lifestyles

FormerNFLandSouthCarolinadefensivetackleLangstonMoorehasseen-andpersonallyexperienced-thedevastatingimpactthatpoorhealthcaninflictonfamilies.

WhenhewasplayingfortheGamecocksmorethanadecadeago,Moore'sfatherpassedawayduetocongestiveheartfailure.Acoupleofyearslater,Moore'smotherdiedfromtheeffectsofstomachcancer.

So,seekingtotakeastandandignitechangeinColumbia,Moore,whoplayedsixseasonsintheNFL(2003-08)withthreedifferentteams(Cincinnati,ArizonaandDetroit)andoneyearintheUnitedFootballLeague,hasspearheadedtheorganizationofanunprecedentedeventtitledEat2Win(EAT:Effort,AttitudeandTechnique)scheduledforJune11atOwensPark.

"(Throughmyparents)Isawhownutritionandgettingearlyscreeningsforalotofthingswereparamounttopeoplebeinghealthy,havingahealthylifestyleandhavingalonglife,"MooretoldGamecockCentral.comonMonday."I'verecentlybeendoingsomeprogramsattheStatehousewithacoupleoflocalsenatorsworkingonnutritionandfoodinequalitiesandcarryingthatovertohealthscreenings.Unfortunately,SouthCarolinaisupthereintheTop10forobesityanddiabetes."

Thecosttoattendthesingle-daycampis$35duringpre-registrationand$40forday-ofregistration.

WhileMoore,whoservesassidelinereporterfortheGamecockRadioNetworkduringfootballseason,andnumerousotherformerGamecockandNFLathletesteachproperfootballskillstocampparticipantsaged9-17,theirparentsorguardianswillhavetheopportunitytoundergopreventivemedicalscreenings,includingtestsfordiabetes,bloodpressure,visionandbodymassindexalongwithone-on-onenutritionalcoachingandhealthyeatingtutorials.

"I'vealwaysvolunteeredtodocamps,butIwantedtogivetheparentsmoretoolstoworkwithasfarasaddingthehealthcomponent,"Mooresaid."Theycancomeoutanddoscreenings.Sometimesit'shardforparentstodothatbecausemanyofthemworkordon'thaveinsurance.Beingabletodoeverythinginaone-stopshopsettingandusingfootballasthedrawisexcitingforus."

AmongtheformerGamecockplayersvolunteeringatthefootballcampareJonathanAlston,SheldonBrown,C.J.Frye,ErikKimrey,JonathanMartin,SyvelleNewton,StanleyPritchett,ShaunSmith,JohnStrickland,HenryTaylor,PrestonThorne,TroyWilliamson,DerekWatsonandRodWilson.

SeveralcoachesfromNewberryCollegewillalsobeonhandofferinginstruction,Mooresaid,includingoffensivecoordinatorBennettSwygert(whostartedhiscareeratUSCbeforetransferringtoWesternCarolina)andinterimoffensivelinecoachandformerGamecockCedricWilliams.

"Gettingalltheseguysonboardtocomeoutisrealexciting,"Mooresaid."Theydidn'tneedmetoconvincethemtocomeout.Theyjustwantedtoknowwhenandwhere.Manypeoplehavebeenreceptive.ThecityofColumbiahascomeonboard.Themayorandcitymanagerhavesupportedit.Thepeopleinthecommunityarereallyreachingoutandhelpingout.It'sawinforeverybody."

EarthFare,alocalgroceryspecializinginhealthandorganicfoods,willservelunchtocampparticipants.Butthemenuwon'tincludehotdogs,hamburgersorjunkfood,traditionalfareofmostcamps.EmployeesofEarthFarewillalsoprovideinstructiononhealthyeating.

"We'llhavehealthy,organicstuffforlunch,"Mooresaid."Therewillbenoprocessedfoodsorsugarydrinksoutthere."

MotivationalspeakersincludeUSCtrackandfieldcoachCurtisFrye,whilerepresentativesoftheColumbiaPoliceDepartmentwillbeonhandtohelpbuildandfosterbettercommunityrelationships.

What:Eat2WinFootballFundamentalCampandHealthCombine

Where:OwensFieldPark,(1351JimHamiltonBlvd.),Columbia

When:9a.m.-3p.m.,June11

Cost:$35pre-registration/$40day-ofregistration

Why:TeachfundamentalfootballskillsandhelpstimulatepositivechangeandpromotehealthylifestylesandwellnessinthePalmettoState

Information:Call(803)569-7116ore-mailEat2Wincamp@gmail.com

Website:eat2winfootballcamp.eventbrite.com

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