missionaries Sister Martha Mary Carpenter, O.S.F. gives encouragement as students run the required morning laps that help keep them free of diabetes.
These sisters have a school to run The Franciscan sisters who work with the Pima Indians in Arizona knew that a little exercise could go a long way in preventing a killer disease. Their school is devoted to helping the children in their care stay healthy in mind and body.
Text by Mark Kolter and Carol Schuck Scheiber Photos courtesy of the
Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity
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very morning Sister Martha Mary Carpenter, O.S.F. flashes a grin worthy of a toothpaste ad at dozens of schoolkids as they hustle around an outdoor track in Arizona. She encourages, cajoles, and high fives them one and all until every child rounds the final bend. Carpenter wants to save their lives. She may be doing just that. These kids are Pima Indians at the
Mark Kolter is principal of Kolter Creative Counsul in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Carol Schuck Scheiber is content editor for Vision.
St. Peter Indian Mission School on the Gila River Reservation. Fate has dealt them several misfortunes. On top of poverty and substance abuse that affect their tribe, half of the adults in their community have diabetes, a disease that often leads to early death. Native Americans have the highest incidence of diabetes in the world. When the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity learned that regular exercise can prevent this deadly disease, they took action. “We start out the day by kicking in the kids’ metabolism by running two, three, four laps around our VISION 2008
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6/5/2007 3:22:55 PM
