Middle School students, members of Caregiving Youth Project, took part in recent heart association walk.
October 10th, 2008
By Dale M. King
CITY EDITOR
Keith is a middle school student in Boca Raton. But he has a lot more than education on his mind.
He is a caregiver to his mom who has a heart condition and back problems. She is going into the hospital soon for back surgery, said Dr. Connie Siskowski, founder and president of Volunteers for the Homebound and Family Caregivers, the Boca Raton-based non-profit organization that supports the Caregiving Youth Project.
Keith took part in a recent walk for the American Heart Association. He happened to tell one of the people at the event that he would like to transfer back to Boca Middle School “because Caregiving Youth is present in the school.” Keith said no one at his current school is there for him like Caregiving Youth.
While many heart disease and stroke survivors take part in the American Heart Association Start! Heart Walk, a new contingent of CYP kids tasked with the care of family members who suffer from heart disease and strokes were also in the line, said Siskowski.
CYP is the first such program in the United States to provide education and awareness, research and support services for middle school students who are family caregivers, she said. “And because heart disease is the Number 1 diagnosis among CYP families, more than 20 of these children and their supporters took action to raise awareness and funds.”
“For the second year of our participation, CYP youth caregivers have expressed an eagerness and great enthusiasm to participate in the Start! Heart Walk,” she said. “They are witnesses to the lingering effects of heart disease and the need for continuing care on a daily basis.”
“Walking also addresses a wellness factor that is important for our youth caregivers “ said Karen Harwood, MSW, the CYP care coordinator. “Because our goals include emotional and physical health, participating in the Start! Heart Walk adds that personal wellness factor that is critical for our participants.”
For information about the Caregiving Youth Project, visit http://www.aacy.org/, or call 561-391-7401.
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