For immediate release
Milk Sport Fair hosting fundraiser for KidSport™ AND thousands of students at one of a kind event
HALIFAX, NS (Wednesday, September 23, 2009) – For three days, the Exhibition Place in Halifax is being flooded with elementary and junior-high school students from the Halifax area all looking to find a sport that suits them. From September 21-23, Sport Nova Scotia’s Milk Sport Fair is giving thousands of eager students the opportunity to try a variety of sports and find out about the programs offered in their community. Over 2300 students are visiting the event during the three days.
What makes this event even more special this year, is a special fundraiser that is being organized to help raise money for KidSport™--a program dedicated to helping kids get involved in organized sport. Doug Large, head instructor of Chimo Taekwondo, will break 1,000 boards in the span of 20 minutes all in the hopes of raising money for KidSport™.
“Sport plays such an important role in helping young people become productive and healthy adults,” says Doug Large. “I wanted to do something for KidSport™ in Nova Scotia because I believe everyone should have the opportunity to be involved in organized sport; and being able to do it at the Milk Sport Fair makes this event even more exciting for me and our club.”
The Milk Sport Fair started eight years ago in Halifax as a pilot-project in an effort to improve sport participation and reduce physical inactivity in the province. Through demonstrations and interactive-activities, the Milk Sport Fair proved to be so successful that Sport Nova Scotia decided to take the event on the road, first to Cape Breton (fall 2005 and 2006), the Annapolis Valley (spring 2006 and 2007) and Antigonish (fall 2007 and 2008) and Yarmouth (spring 2008 and 2009).
“Sport Nova Scotia and its member provincial sport organizations are committed to helping students find sports that make them want to be active,” says Jamie Ferguson, CEO, Sport Nova Scotia. “Through the Milk Sport Fair, we hope that participants will find an activity that fits their lifestyle and motivates them to turn off the TV and go play. Being part of sport is fun and it adds so much to life. You learn new skills, you create life-long friendships and you build confidence. All you need to do is try and we are helping making that possible.”
“We are very excited to see this event back in Halifax where it all started. We have enjoyed taking the Fair on the road over the past few years and we will be back out there next spring but right now are enjoying seeing kids here in Halifax trying on sports and learning about the life-long benefits of sport,” adds Ferguson.
"We are very proud to be part of the Milk Sport Fair,” says Bruno Larose, Dairy Farmers of Canada. "When you team up physical activity and good healthy eating habits all under one roof the result is a win-win combination for all. This event really reaches the students in a way that they can get information, touch and see several sports in action and learn about the benefits of chocolate milk as a sport recovery drink."
The Milk Sport Fair’s title sponsor is Dairy Farmers of Canada and presenting sponsors are Doctors Nova Scotia and Nova Scotia Health Promotion and Protection.
Sport Nova Scotia is a voice for amateur sport that promotes the benefits of health, personal development and achievement of all participants. Sport Nova Scotia is a non-profit, non-government organization representing over 60 provincial sport organizations and more than 160,000 member Nova Scotians.
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For more information, please contact:
Catherine McKellar
Director, Communications and Public Relations
902-425-5450 ext. 321
cmckellar@sportnovascotia.ca