w w w. b a ke r s f i e l d vo i c e .c o m
Sunday, September 15, 2013 The Bakersfield Voice
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Some of the approximately 500 participants stroll The Park at River Walk during the Walk to Defeat ALS in 2007.
Take a step to fight ALS BY LORNA MCWILLIAMS Community contributor
T
he 10th annual “Walk to Defeat ALS” will be held Saturday, Oct. 5, at The Park at River Walk in Bakersfield, and will help raise money for local patient services and increase awareness of ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, in Kern County. This walk will allow ALS patients to get more information on Lou Gehrig’s disease, and meet others with this progressive disease. During the past nine years, the Bakersfield has contributed more than ,$800,000 making the Bakersfield walk one of the most successful events for the ALS Association’s Golden West Chapter. This success is the result of countless people in our community working hard to improve the lives of those afflicted with ALS. The biggest thrill is seeing all of the participants — friends and strangers alike — parading around the park in support of our cause, organizers say. Once again, walk organizers are calling upon the can-do spirit of the community to help those in need. The ALS Association has been helping Kern County’s ALS patients and their families through their most diffi-
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cult times, from finding doctors, to obtaining medical equipment or providing a sympathetic ear. The walk has helped the ALS Association provide the following services for Kern County: • Located and provided services for nearly 50 percent of ALS patients in Kern County; • Hired a Kern County case manager; • Hosted monthly support group meetings; • Opened a center for ALS Care at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center; • Sponsored annual "ask the experts" seminars; • Created local equipment loan pool. Walk registration begins at 8 a.m. and is followed by a three-mile walk around the park. Sponsorship opportunities are available. Teams of walkers are forming. If the disease has affected your family, or you know of someone who has ALS, consider walking in their honor. Donate, volunteer, form a walking team and more information at walktodefeatals.org. Also, contact Stacy Inman or Michael Gagner at 664-1226, or Lorna McWilliams at 304-4945.
H E A L T H
Stop bullying in your child’s life with these easy 5 steps BY MYRIAM VALDEZ Community contributor
W
hat would you do if your child was a victim of bullying? Bullying is no new childhood challenge. The advent of social media has made it even easier for bullies to torment their peers. Cyberbullying that takes place over electronic media has seen a dramatic rise over the years, and along with bullying that goes on in schools, parents have a tremendous task to ensure their child isn’t a victim. How can you get your child to open up about bullying? Certified Bakersfield-based parenting coach Gerry Garcia encourages parents to remain engaged with their children, and he offers these five steps to help stop a bully in your child’s life:
1. Start investigating: Your child may change in behavior from day to night, which may just be hormonal teenage mood swings. A noticed drop in grades or an increase in violent behaviors towards others may be a sign that your child may be dealing with bullying outside of home. Be on alert for changes in behavior that seem to come out of nowhere. 2. Pinpoint the problem: Garcia cautions parents to be careful by identifying the bullying with open-ended questions like, “Can you tell me more about how they hurt you?” By allowing an open space for your child to share feelings, the mistreatment and issue can be identified clearly.
3. Help your child take control: It’s key to break the intimidation cycle. The child is fearful of the bully and is controlled by that fear,” Garcia said. Break the cycle by sitting down with his or her and help work through the effect bullying has on the victim and loved ones. 4. Stand up for your child: Your role as a guardian is to advocate for your child. Set up a meeting with a counselor, teacher or request to meet with the bully’s parents to address the problem. This will help give your children confidence to stand up. 5. Give your child the tools to defend: Teaching kids an alternative response to bullies will help them be capable of defending themselves. Garcia suggests that parents should role play with their children on scenarios such as, “Let me show you how to walk away from those kids when they bully you,” or, “I can show you how to be humorous when they begin to pick on you.” — Gerry Garcia offers parenting coaching classes at St. Francis of Assisi Parish. Classes are open to all. More information: assertiveparenting.com/blog. This article first appeared in Bakersfield Wellness Magazine, bWell. For more on local health and wellness, go to bwellmagazine.com, or find us on Facebook and Twitter (@BWellMag).
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