Knowledge is power

SNOW HILL - David Jones has a feat in mind to raise awareness about childhood obesity.

Make that "feet."

Jones, a retired state employee from Snow Hill, plans to walk the 73 miles from Snow Hill to Raleigh in October to take his message to state officials.

"I want to raise awareness that there needs to be more action taken to defeat childhood obesity," Jones said. He said he hopes local and state officials will do more to help children battle the problem.

Jones warmed up Saturday with a walk from Snow Hill to Kinston, accompanied by Roscoe Holloway, also of Snow Hill.

The morning's thunderstorms didn't deter them from reaching Kinston. "We left about 7 a.m. with our support driver and headed to Kinston," Jones said. "It didn't start raining until we walked past the Global TransPark."

Three people are expected to walk with Jones in October. They plan to walk for six days and average 15 miles a day. The route will take them from the steps of Snow Hill's town hall to N.C. 91 through Walstonburg. The group will then walk on U.S. 264 to Raleigh.

Jones plans to partner with Lenoir Memorial Hospital this summer to help put the spotlight on childhood obesity. He will also host several fundraising events to help pay for the October walk.

"Childhood obesity is preventable and reversible," he said. "What we are lacking is a determination or will to solve it."

Jones said parents need to be more aware of what their children are eating and be better role models for healthy living.

The 2007 North Carolina Youth Risk Behavior survey showed that 13 percent of the state's high school students are obese. Fifty-six percent of students in the survey did not meet the recommended levels of physical activity.

Obesity can lead to additional health problems, Holloway said.

"Obesity can bring on diabetes," he said. "A lot more children are getting diabetes now."

Chris Lavender can be reached at (252) 559-1078 or clavender@freedomenc.com.