According to health statistics, Dallas County is the fattest county in the state and one local youth organization is trying to change that.

The Dallas County National Council of Negro Women’s youth section will hold a “Family, Fun and Fitness Day” Saturday, May 12 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Memorial Stadium. The free event will include activities for youth and adults in an effort to promote healthy living.

“We’ll have football, basketball, cheering and T-ball for children and for adults, there is going to be AIDS and HIV info, recipes for healthy cooking and other health literature,” youth president and Selma High student Allison Moore said. “Our goal is to encourage the public to come out and participate and get a jumpstart on a healthy lifestyle. I’m asking for parents and members of family to come out and support this, and hopefully it will have an impact on their lives.”

Moore and her group addressed the Selma City Council last Tuesday, asking for both monetary and volunteer help from doctors, dieticians and citizens, as well as donations for food and music, to make the program a success. Moore said the event is crucial, especially for young people.

“The decisions we make while we are young can affect us as we’re older,” Moore said. “A lot of older people have diabetes, high cholesterol and that’s due to some of the habits they developed while they were young. The choices we make — whether to exercise or not exercise, can also play a part health wise and help determine your lifestyle later on.”

Moore said the group hopes to soon be chartered. As a first service project, the group will donate food and litter to the Selma Animal Shelter on April 28.

The mission of NCNW is to lead, develop and advocate for women of African descent as they support their families and communities. The nonprofit organization fulfills the mission through research advocacy and national and community-based health, education and economic empowerment services and programs across the U.S. and Africa. The organization is open to women of all descents. To make a donation or to volunteer, call JoAnn Smith at 872-5801.