Posted May 2, 2013

Eagles' DeSean Jackson visits Temple to help promote healthy lifestyles

Megan Chiplock
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson poses and signs autographs at the April 30 Student Health Awareness Day, sponsored by Her Campus Temple and the DeSean Jackson Foundation.

The first step toward living a healthy lifestyle is knowing what to do. That’s why Her Campus Temple and the DeSean Jackson Foundation teamed up to create Student Health Awareness Day.

Held Tuesday, April 30, in the Howard Gittis Student Center, the event featured a fun program of speakers, food and contests as part of an effort to promote wellness among members of the Temple and broader North Philadelphia communities.

“Health awareness is important to me,” said Jaimee Swift, who was responsible for planning and managing the event as president of Her Campus Temple, the university’s chapter of the online community for female college students.

Swift said her interest in health issues took root during her sophomore year of college when her mother was diagnosed with renal failure. That experience brought home the importance of building health awareness among people of all ages. Then this winter, she met Gayle Jackson, mother of Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson, and discovered the two shared common goals.

Jackson, who lost her husband, Bill, to pancreatic cancer, started the DeSean Jackson Foundation as a way of promoting testing for pancreatic cancer. One way the foundation achieves this objective is through annual community health fairs held in memory of the late Jackson.

The decision between Swift and Jackson to create a health fair at Temple seemed like a simple and effective way to raise awareness for both students and community members. Other groups from around campus, such as the Wellness Resource Center, as well as several outside organizations, such as Independence Blue Cross, also volunteered their support.

“I believe in being holistically well — so mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally, psychologically,” said Swift. “That’s what we want for students, for the community, for everybody.”

DeSean Jackson appeared at the event to sign autographs and pose for photos with fans. Swift said his involvement brought notoriety to the event, but also sent a powerful message that it is critical to discuss wellness issues and promote a healthy way of life for all.

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