Sunnyside receives FitDesks

Students at Sunnyside Intermediate School have a new way to keep active at school - riding a bicycle while studying.

Librarian Lorraine Don pursued purchasing FitDesks for the school, and after the school parent teacher organization stepped up and provided the full funds for the purchase, four of the desks with bicycles for the seats are in the school library.

Don said she became interested in ways to keep students active when she saw a special on television about "sitting disease" - the impacts of sitting too long - especially on students.

She said she first heard about FitDesks from her daughter, Juletta Gilge, who works at the library at Montana State University-Billings, and read an article about its work.

"I read about how their library is trying to meet the needs of their patrons and that FitDesks were appearing in libraries and schools across the country," Don said, adding that, after her research, "I was inspired by the studies to move our library into the 'fit' mode and order FitDesks."

Don said she proposed the idea to the PTO, and the organization agreed to pay for the desk.

She said she then asked the Montana State University-Northern Cross Country team if its members would help put the desks together, and they "responded with a healthy yes.

"I am excited for students and staff to utilize our FitDesks," Don added.

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Online: Just Stand website: juststand.org

University of Vermont sitting disease page: http://learn.uvm.edu/blog-health/sitting-disease-health-effects