By Ashley Mussbacher (The Cascade) – Email
Print Edition: November 13, 2013
Childhood health risks tied to sugary sweets are increasing, and some say Halloween doesn’t help.
According to an NRC Research Press article looking at diabetes, heart disease, and other health risks in children, “coordinated efforts at all levels (family, school, community, and government) must be established with a long-term commitment to promote healthy and physical activity behaviours in our youth.”
Clayburn Dental in Abbotsford steps forward each year to fulfill the community commitment part of that puzzle by helping children and parents make the right decision when it comes to sweets. For two days after Halloween, the dental office offers an annual candy buy-back. For each pound up to 20 pounds, they offer $2. The candy is donated to the local Salvation Army.
“It was a hit last year, and this year we doubled the amount of candy we received,” Michelle Blake, a member of Clayburn Dental, explains.
Last year, they collected 100 pounds of candy from the community; that is nearly the weight of 500 king-size Mars Bars.
In an interview by CTV News before this year’s Halloween candy craze, Clayburn Dental’s Stephan Wall said, “This year, we’re shooting for 250 pounds.”
They hit their goal, and collected 250 pounds of candy from the community.
“As a dental office we want to prevent cavities,” Blake says. “It also practices good dentistry. The kids love it… They tell us what they dressed up as. It was great!”
