Letter.

I just read the recent editorial on Participaction. ("Let's bring back the 60 year old Swede"). Having been born in 1966, I well remember the commercials on TV that promoted fitness as an important part of our lives. I also remember the "Health Hustle", which we did regularly in elementary school when I lived in London, Ontario.

Both of those outreach projects had an enormous impact on me. As a young child I took it very seriously and strove to ensure that fitness was a regular part of my life. Children are little sponges, and I very much believe that those outreach initiatives profoundly affected my attitude toward fitness and helped make fitness part of my lifestyle.

As you lament, it is indeed unfortunate that funding for Participaction was cut in 2000. As so much research has recently shown, promoting a healthy lifestyle is so important to reduce many health problems our youth face now and in the future.

Beth Ponka

Thunder Bay, ON

Editors note: We received phone calls from people who were suprised to learn that Participaction is no longer around. Apparently, Participaction lingers in the hearts and running shoes of many Canadians.