Many thanks to the generous donors who supported our ThinkFirst Navajo runners at the 2017 Shiprock Half Marathon in May. We raised more than $2,000, which allowed us to teach more than 250 Navajo children how to stay safe and avoid traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries over the summer.
Throughout the month of July, we participated in the Ashinéé Shiyázhí Youth Conference, organized by the Diné Relief Initiative. Presentations at eight venues spread throughout the Navajo Nation emphasized Native culture, arts, education and health promotion. Read more about the conference in the Daily Times.
Herlinda Mann, a health coordinator with Navajo First, adjusts a bike helmet on Audriana Rose Telkamp at the Healing Circle Drop-In Center in Shiprock. (Photo: Jon Austria/The Daily Times)
With the goal of promoting smart choices and safe behaviors among young people, our ThinkFirst Navajo team members covered topics ranging from pedestrian and motor vehicle safety to playground, cycling, sports and water safety, as well as falls, suicide and violence prevention. In addition, we demonstrated bike helmet safety and provided helmets to student volunteers.
ThinkFirst Navajo VIP, Cecelia Fred with Navajo student wearing shiny new helmet.
One of the highlights of each presentation was the personal testimony from our VIPs (Voices for Injury Prevention)—all of whom sustained brain and/or spinal cord injuries in preventable accidents.
Navajo youth excited to learn about injury prevention at one of the Ashinéé Shiyázhí Youth Conferences, held at the Dilkon Arizona Chapter House.
Our presentations are offered free of charge to schools, chapter houses, health fairs, youth conferences and other events on and near the Navajo Nation. To book a presentation or for more information on how you can save a young Native child’s life, please contact our chapter director, Jodee Dennison, at: https://evecrowellsfund.org/contact-us/
We rely on support from individual donors to help fund our programs. Please consider making a donation today so we can continue to teach young Native children how to “use their minds to protect their bodies.” Click here to learn more about how you can help: How You Can Help Eve’s Fund.
For those of you who supported our Shiprock Marathon runners, a big thank you from ThinkFirst Navajo director, Jodee Dennison; Eve’s Fund president, Barbara Crowell Roy; and board member Catherine Zaharko.
