SOLE impact - Educational Component
The educational component of the SOLE impact program is two-fold: physical education and lecture-based education. Both elements reflect our goals to inspire girls to fitness, philanthropy and an end to cancer. In this section, we will discuss lecture-based, non-physical learning. Our methods include journaling, educational topics, guest speakers, advocacy projects and cancer awareness activities.
We begin each seasonal session with a question and answer period to determine the group’s core knowledge of the disease of cancer. Sadly, it has been our experience that even the youngest participants have been touched by the disease and have basic knowledge regarding cancer. After this initial assessment, we are able to tailor our curriculum and alert our topical speakers to what level of discussion might best address the needs of the group.
Journaling
Journaling is an extremely important part of the SOLE impact experience. At the beginning of each seasonal training session, each girl is given a personal notebook and pen, and detailed instructions on keeping an exercise log, personal growth journal with reflections and note taking during important educational topic and guest speaker segments. The journal serves as a reference tool for the girls to record goals and aspirations and to continue their health and fitness journey post SOLE impact.
Educational Topics
Education is a key component to SOLE impact. The topics addressed in the last segment of each meeting include:
- Cancer prevention: use of sunscreen, importance of healthy eating, NO SMOKING
- Listening to your body as a health indicator, routine visits to your family physician
- Careers that fight cancer
- Cancer survivors share their stories
- Muscle group identification
- How to strengthen and stretch each muscle group
- Proper running technique
- Cardio vascular health
- Proper running attire
- Use your voice as an advocate
Guest Speakers
Each week during the SOLE impact training sessions, we engage a guest speaker, usually a professional member of our community who has relevant knowledge pertaining to our program and specified topic. The speaker addresses our girls, distributes handouts and applicable items to accompany the topic discussed. Guest speakers have included, but are not limited to:
Dermatologist: Dr. Kristyn Payne led a discussion about the importance of sunscreen and skin protection. She emphasized the importance of tracking moles and freckles and monitoring skin changes. Sunscreen was distributed to all.
Nutritionist: Lisa Barker, MS RD LD and Odessa Long, B.S. H.Ed. spoke to the group on separate occasions. Messages included the correct way to fuel an athlete’s body, healthy eating and snack ideas, as well as foods to avoid. In alignment with the entire SOLE impact program, these tools were presented in a manner that ensured each girl could go home and immediately implement what she learned.
Dentist: Dr. Stephanie Parke opened with the topic of oral cancers. The discussion encompassed general oral health as it relates to overall health, especially the heart. Dr. Parke also stressed the importance of NEVER SMOKING, EVER.
Oncology Nurse Navigator: Carol Lewis, RN BSN OCN CRNI, discussed her professional role in guiding patients thought the cancer process; including sorting through questions and concerns, providing educational literature and general support in an uncertain time. This was an excellent talk from the perspective of an interesting career path as well as dedication in providing a service to those with cancer.
Cancer Survivors: Tracey Case, a stage 4 breast cancer survivor, young mom and runner shared her inspiring story of running a half-marathon post cancer diagnosis. She humanized the disease and shared an invaluable story of survival. Carol Mitsuda-Bagnall, an ovarian cancer survivor, nationally ranked swimmer and avid runner, cyclist and triathlete embodied strength and courage as she talk to our group. Carol challenged the girls to challenge themselves to a high level of fitness throughout their lives, regardless of age.
Professional Triathlete: Kim Hager is a Team Timex Multisport athlete and shared with the girls her own positive power words to help them endure longer runs. Kim also taught the girls proper pre-race eating, resting and mental preparation methods. Her positive message and professional experience were invaluable.
Luke’s Locker: Cathy Steele led an important discussion about proper running attire and proper shoe fitting. She gave detailed descriptions of the aerodynamics of running in cotton vs. wicking fabrics. Luke’s initiated a Sole Sister’s program that involved female runners and fitness enthusiasts in our community providing support and encouragement of girls in SOLE impact.
Advocacy Specialists from the Lance Armstrong Foundation: Two advocacy professionals traveled from Austin to join us for a run and address the importance of grassroots support for cancer-related political issues. They helped us realize that even one young voice can change the world.
Advocacy Projects
Participants in SOLE impact are people of action. We can not stress enough, to our girls, that they have a powerful voice that must be heard. We have the girls close each session in unison, “I am one young voice, but I can change the world!” After engaging initial discussion about what advocacy means and our role as constituents, we asses the current politics in our local, state and national governments to determine what actions we will may chose take as a group of constituents.
Proposition 15: In 2007, Texas legislators and voters approved legislation to dedicate $3 billion over ten years toward winning the war against cancer. This $3 billion investment authorized by the ballot initiative Proposition 15 will allow cutting edge cancer research to be conducted in Texas laboratories and ensure that proven discoveries are delivered to all segments of the population in local communities across the state (from Lance Armstrong Foundation website) As constituents, our girls wrote letters regarding Proposition 15 to their local congressmen. They were also charge with the duty of informing their parents and friends about this important information.
Smoke Free Texas: This legislation would provide statewide, comprehensive protections from secondhand smoke exposure in all indoor and public work places, including restaurants and bars. We all signed a petition in support of this legislation created by one of our girls who was displeased with her smoky seating in a local restaurant and wouldn’t stand for it! All participants in SOLE impact signed a petition stating that they would NEVER, EVER smoke.
Smoke Free Texas Advocacy Fundraising Project: We brainstormed visual ideas for getting the Smoke Free Texas idea across to our state population, held a poster contest and art auction around the theme: I am Dreaming of a Smoke Free Texas…
Cancer Awareness Activities
SOLE impact gives back! Equally important to fundraising is our goal to touch members of the cancer community individually through service and awareness projects. With each action, we are able to educate about SOLE impact and cancer awareness activism.
Chain of Heroes: Our colorful collection of paper strip loops with names displayed in honor and memory of each of our loves ones affected by cancer. We proudly display this tribute wherever we go!
Blankets: We assembled and hand-tied piles of happy, soft, child-sized blankets, wrote personal notes of encouragements and donated them for distribution at MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Center. We immediately heard a glowing report of how happily our gifts were received. Our girls were very touched by this activity and humbled to be supporting young people just like them.
SOLE impact “Beat Cancer Bake Sale” Cookbook: We assembled recipes contributed by our girls with names like “Beat Cancer Brownies” and “Cure Cancer Cupcakes” bound and sold them as a fundraising effort.
Fit Kits: In alignment with our vision to teach girls to be participants in fitness for life, we assembled “Fit Kits” containing anything and everything a child would need to get active. Hula hoops, bats, balls, racquets, bands, jump ropes and more were donated to a community center in an underserved area.
