Lights, camera, action – and a national prize for local teen

Wellington’s Cassidy Allison ‘dared to move’ when she launched into action with a video camera in hand and won a nationwide ParticipACTION prize for her efforts.

Recent statistics show 93 per cent of youth are not active enough. Teen obesity has tripled since 1980 and now one in four youth are overweight and one in five 15-year-olds has high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
“It’s pretty clear that we have a crisis on our hands,” says Allison. “It’s really not cool. I thought there must be something I could do, and that is when I heard about the ParticipACTION challenge.”

ParticipACTION issued the Dare2move challenge, which asked teens to create a message about physical inactivity. The entry was to be anything creative that would inspire teens to understand and care about the inactivity crisis in Canada. Allison produced a video highlighting physical activity opportunities, mixed with some hard facts. This paid off and her video was one of the winning submissions. The challenge was nation wide and included both French and English entries.

Prince Edward Collegiate Institute benefited from Allison’s work, says Jennifer Ronan, public health nurse with the Hastings and Prince Edward Counties Health Unit.
“As part of her prize, the school received an active gaming system. Allison also received $500 dollars to be donated to a not-for-profit organization focusing on physical activity,” said Ronan.
Allison presented the money to the Prince Edward Figure Skating Club, where she has been a member for 13 years. Allison is on the ice several days a week not only figure skating but also playing hockey. She hopes her video and positive peer influence will encourage others to get out and get active. Allison plans to open up her own production company this summer creating video memories for families and groups.