Marny Smith Manager • about 14 years ago

Hi Amy,

If you have concerns about this video, please email us directly at support@challengepost.com

Best,
Marny

Petra martinez • about 14 years ago

To all those who know someone who is successfully living in a semi-independent living situation for a long period of time, congratulations! I hope that our PWS community can all gain more knowledge and awareness for increasing the quality of life for our loved ones.

Donna Miller • about 14 years ago

Dear Amy, I'm sure it was not your intent to be dismissive of the population of people with PWS and their families and caregivers. Healthy food and proper exercise is what we live with all day, everyday. This video obviously met the requirements of Challengepost and the contest rules. Whether or not you feel the PWS cause and the video posted is worthy of your vote is certainly your right. The PWS program supports a community of PWS sufferers and the people who care for them. I'm sorry you feel that this particular community is not worthy of the honor of winning this competition. Perhaps your time might be better spent voting for, and soliciting votes for, your particular cause.

Gary Gulley • about 14 years ago

Ayden Jane is our youngest of 4 kids. As we learned of her dietary and exercise needs I learned so much about nutrition. I thought I had done a pretty good job with my older 3 and our typical american diet. Wow! Ayden Jane has forced me to see that everybody needs to learn good nutrition and exercise habits! The stakes are so much higher for her, but she has shown us all that everyone needs to step up and live healthy.

Cindy Thomson • about 14 years ago

I am a host of a One SMALL Step Walk and am amazed at how the older kids (in their 20's) look forward to the day and the walk. This year I hope to add more movement to the day (zumba?). It's such a great day to get active in our PWS Community with others involved to share in the fun.

Ali Shenk • about 14 years ago

Our children must maintain meticulous diets to avoid a variety of health and behavioral issues (and sometimes even those are not enough). Who better to lead the way than our loved ones with PWS? I know an adult with PWS who goes for a walk TWICE a day to maintain her weight. I'm tired just thinking about it! If that's not relevant to the obesity problem in our country, I don't know what is.

Valerie Cirino • about 14 years ago

My son, Paul, was diagnosed at birth with Prader-Willi Syndrome. It was devistating to my husband and I thinking that our newborn son could become morbidly obese and even die from overeating because his body is programmed to never feel full.
Now 3 1/2 years old, we have learned so much through him and those in the PWS community and no longer think of it as a death sentence. It has made us a healthier, more active family. I never worried about nutrition or exercise before and now it is a constant part of my life. We live and breath having proper nutrition and a healthy life style, things most people take for granted.
The research being done to fight this syndrome is the same that will fight obesity for everyone. It is not our intent to only promote a healthy life style and diet to families suffering through the constant battle of obesity through PWS, but to promote a healthy lifestyle and diet to everyone whether they be thin or obese. We want to promote health as a way of to all.

Tanya Johnson • about 14 years ago

First of all, I want to thank all of the people who took time to comment on the Take One SMALL Step video, the challenges of PWS and the amazing programs that we can share with the world to help all people battling with obesity. Capturing everything we do in a 3 minute video is a challenge in itself but we are a determined group who will continue to share our programs, make new videos, and work with anyone who is willing to solve Obesity. Understanding PWS and collaboration might be exactly what America needs. Positive comments and passion toward a common goal can only benefit EVERYONE. I am honoured to be part of such an amazing community and I respect and admire everyone for staying postive and sharing specific strategies that can help the general population. We are one community that can persevere through anything. I want to sicerely thank the Faith and Communities Challenges for developing and launching this video contest to look at how we can fight against obesity TOGETHER and from several different angles. Sometimes, you really need to step outside the box and look at various ways to attack an issue that is becoming an epidemic in America. PWS, its challenges, the possibility of research and the power of the PWS community is definitely outside the box and can offer great value to solving the growing concern of obesity. All videos offer several programs and value to any community which was the brilliant purpose of this contest. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart, my 7 year old son and this PWS community has taught me more than many people learn in a lifetime about the importance of priorities and health and fitness. I am ready to share that with the world and do whatever it takes to get Amercia back in shape!

Dominique Deleage • about 14 years ago

I really believe that the goals of the "Let's move" initiative and the facts of life of the PWS community are one and the same. PWS is a genetic disorder whose most dominant symptom is insatiable hunger. It is combined with poor metabolism and low muscle tone, and leaves kids and adults with PWS at an extremely high risk for obesity, and for obesity-related deaths.

As a result, similarly to "Let's move", our community wages a daily fight on common food and execise habits all around us that put our loved ones at risk, such as:
• Unbalanced, carbohydrate heavy meals
• Snacking throughout the day
• Unreasonably big portion sizes
• Sugar loaded celebrations of holidays and birthdays, especially at school
• Access to food anywhere you go
• Lack of healthy food options in many public venues
• Limited opportunity to walk instead of drive places
• Difficult and often expensive access to age and abilities appropriate exercise

For our community, staying healthy is not just a wish list, it's a matter of necessity, and in many cases survival. And because what people do around us also affects the the health of our children, there really can't be a more motivated or a more engaged group than ours! We are in this fight against obesity to the very end.

Rachel Fernandez Hansen • about 14 years ago

I am the mother of a child with PWS, and for the second year in a row now, I will be hosting a One Small Step event. @AmyA, our video may stylistically not be to your liking, and as another mother wrote, I'm sure you were not trying to be dismissive to the population of of people with PWS, their families and caregivers. But more over I want to point out that, I know, from my own personal experience that my sons diagnosis has had a positive effect on our own community, my son is only 4 years old, and we go biking, swimming and running together (just to mention a few!), and our community cheers us on, and often will join us! Everyone eats healthier and are aware of healthier food choices when we are out in the community. At our walk last year we passed out a healthy recipes cookbook, other moms in my community are always asking me for healthy cooking tips. So his diagnosis has had a profound effect on our community, in a positive way regarding proper diet and exercise, and for the second year in a row that community will gather and take One Small Step together. Every cloud does have a silver lining, and if we could help the rest of the population fight obesity, I honestly can't think of a better group!

eulalia ferrer • about 14 years ago

The Prader-Willis association has been of tremendous help to my nice with PWS and her-my family. It is a very difficult difficult time for children to grow up fighting hunger all the time.

catherine rakowski • about 14 years ago

My adorable niece Violet was born with PWS. Her parents, Liz and Matt, will do almost anything to make sure her needs are met. However, rather than focus exclusively on their own family, they are committed to the larger community of children and families with PWS. On top of her already jam-packed schedule, my sister Liz helped establish and co-chair the annual One Small Step Run/Walk in Buffalo, NY. The One Small Step network of events increase awareness of PWS and raise desperately needed funds to support medical research. I firmly believe that medical research is vital to unraveling the complexities of the human genome and brain and will offer hope and help for families affected by PWS. Ultimately, research of this nature will impact and benefit us all. Thank you to everyone joining forces for PWS- leading by example and being generous with your time, talent, and resources. Thank you also to those voting today. Your voices of support mean so much.

Susan Hedstrom • about 14 years ago

One SMALL Step walks take place in over 53 locations across North America and not only serve to educate the public about Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) they also promote healthy and active lifestyles.

The PWS community knows all too well the importance of healthy eating and active lifestyles. Genetically prone to obesity, our loved ones with PWS can only consume half the calories of their typical peers. Our kids grow up knowing caloric values and the difference between nutritious and poor food from a very early age. Low muscle tone and high body fat composition makes exercise difficult but our PWS community knows exercise MUST be built solidly into our daily routine.

One SMALL Step walks bring together our PWS community to celebrate our children, our successes and most of all, our vow to fight relentlessly against this syndrome. When our PWS community comes together to take One SMALL Step, we are reminded that regardless of the odds, we are strong enough to BEAT obesity.

I invite anyone who would like more information about One SMALL Step to attend one of our walks and take One SMALL Step with us. A list of events can be found at: http://onesmallstep.fpwr.org/dw/walking/event_list

Sarah Corkum • about 14 years ago

I LOVE the sense of community created by the Scotiabank One SMALL Step walks in support of the Foundation for Prader-Willi Research. We gather together to WALK. We promote a healthy lifestyle and exercise. We support research into WHY obesity is so rampant - not only for those diagnosed with Prader-Willi Syndrome but EVERYONE. Join our community walks.

Peter Vario • about 14 years ago

Being diagnosed with Prader-Willi Syndrome means- Your LIFE depends on eating healthy and daily exercise! One Small Step walks encourage families and their communities to come together to FIGHT OBESITY! A child who is diagnosed with PWS makes others look and reflect on their own eating habits and daily activites. Children and adults with PWS are an inspiration to others to stay fit and eat right to help support them as well as other's well-being. "One Small Step" , we CAN make a difference and come together to fight PWS and Obesity!

catherine rakowski • about 14 years ago

When you really think about it, it's amazing how much of our culture revolves around food. Going to the movies, celebrating a holiday, shopping in a store...daily life is a minefield for people with PWS. Our convenience and media driven society derail even the most mindful of us. Unhealthy lifestyles are really the new normal. In a world where obesity and starvation are both serious problems, clearly we are far off the right track. PWS may be considered as only one specific circumstance that may lead to obesity. However, it is in looking at the extremes that we often stop, take notice, and reflect on our own situations. I think many people will identify with some of the struggles people with PWS face. The PWS community seeks to promote exercise and healthful eating and to advance medical research and awareness not only out of need, but out of the desire to improve life for everyone. This makes the PWS initiative perfect for this contest! Please keep voting!

Donna Franco • about 14 years ago

I vote everyday for our grandson, Landon, who will be 6 yrs. old this Aug. and for ALL with PWS & their families. Hope you will, too! We CAN make a difference. LET'S MOVE & VOTE

Mark Giroux • about 14 years ago

There appears to be a few people who are questioning the validity of this video and others suggesting that the content, or the intent, is misleading.

To those people, I offer the following.

This video was created for three reasons:

1. To help fight childhood obesity.
2. To promote the importance of an active lifestyle and healthy eating.
3. To inspire others to see what the PWS community has done in an effort to try and overcome these obstacles.

I can also assure you that this video was not created with the intention to mislead, nor to make an inappropriate emotional appeal through the misplaced use of pictures or music.

We chose to share our story of obesity through the power of words…not through the exploitation of pictures.

We chose to use ‘sad’ music because it’s sad to see children crying because they’re hungry…but they’re not allowed to eat. It’s sad to see children stealing food. It’s sad to see children eating from the garbage. It’s sad to see adults living at home because they cannot live without supervision.

We chose the song Everybody Hurts, because these people are hurting. Their families are hurting. Their friends are hurting.

We chose to show the power of the One Small Step movement because we have hope…and we want to inspire others to feel the same. This is our mission.

We chose to show pictures of ‘cute’ children because people with PWS are beautiful people. The children are innocent. They are born genetically predisposed to become obese, while some may not…many will.

There also seems to be some criticism that this entry is nothing more than a ploy to help our cause and that it does not fit the criteria for this competition. To that I would say:

If this competition was aimed at better understanding hypertension or cholesterol...would you only consider entries based on lifestyle choices and dismiss all of those related to heredity?

If the goal of this competition was to try and better understand depression…would you only consider the entries that were based on people who have suffered tragedy in their lives and dismiss those people who may have been born with a genetic predisposition to mental illness?

The same holds true for the war on obesity. Why should submissions be solely based on lifestyle choices and not accept the submission of people who are at great risk because of their genetic makeup?

In the end, obesity is obesity. Let's focus on trying to better understand the complexity of the hunger mechanism, to better understand 'why' these children are hungry. Despite whether obesity is caused by lifestyle or genetics...the answers to these questions, will provide insight to all.

While I do not have a direct family member with PWS, I know many families who do. And I can assure you that none of them have made a negative comment about any of the other sixty submissions.

They have not tried to undermine the efforts of the other participants, nor have they dismissed the causes that others believe in and stand up for.

It’s understandable that not everyone will truly appreciate or agree with what we are trying to achieve, and that’s okay…you don’t need to vote.

But rather than trying to question the validity of what the PWS community stands for and the movement that they believe in... perhaps your efforts would be better served on supporting the cause that you do believe in. Help raise positive awareness for their submission, rather than trying to bring negative awareness to ours.

For anyone reading this who does not know someone affected with PWS, rest assured that you would understand the fight, agree with the cause, support the efforts, and vote for the submission if you did.

Benjamin Mueller • about 14 years ago

Wow! Mark G., this coming from someone who does not have a family memeber with PWS. I applaud you for your true understanding of what we deal with every single day. Thank you!

Terri McCloskey • about 14 years ago

@ Mark G. Thank you for so elooquently explaining not only the intend of this submission but the heartbreaking challenges associated with PWS. Well done!!

Fernando Briones • about 14 years ago

"one small step" and VOTE! Thank you all

Manny Cordeiro • about 14 years ago

Mark G. You are an example of what is good in the world. To choose and belief that you and your amazing videos can and will make a difference is inspirational. You exemplify what it is to give back and lead by example in your efforts for community service, is inspiring. We in the PWS community are blessed to have an advocate like yourself !

Well said, well done !

Manny - Father to Julia - 6 (PWS) and Noah (9)

susan miller • about 14 years ago

these are innocent children ,they did not have a choice.Life put this syndrome on them.Not only will they have to deal with insatiable appetites,but they are also born with low muscle tone.....who needs more help than these children?

Caroline Richard • about 14 years ago

@ Mark G. : You are amazing! Tank you so much for what you wrote. I'm not surprised your videos are so beautiful, right and powerfull.

Just thank you again.

As Manny said : "Well said, well done"

Caroline - Paris France - Mother of Romane (4), Arthur (1 PWS) and Arthur (1 PWS)

Caroline Richard • about 14 years ago

Oups... sorry :

Caroline - Paris France - Mother of Romane (4), Arthur (1 PWS) and Antoine (1 PWS)

Take One SMALL Step!!

WINNER: Exceptional Achievement

Try it out

176 comments