September 2, 2004

Charlotte, NC - Step teams from Charlotte-area neighborhoods, schools and youth groups will strut their stuff on local TV Fridays and Saturdays starting in September! The first broadcast of the 4th Annual Sheila Stewart School Step Show, co-sponsored by REACH 2010, the Mecklenburg County Health Department and a host of community partners, is Saturday, September 4, at 8 a.m. on Charlotte’s UPN station WJZY (46). The show will air a total of nine times on WJZY and the Government Channel (Channel 16 Time-Warner cable).

The "Stomping Out Tobacco" show was taped Saturday, May 15, at Charlotte’s Cricket Arena. During their routine, each step team was challenged to include a 15-second tobacco prevention message to creatively educate their peers about the dangers of tobacco use. Charlotte’s Hopewell High School provided the winning routine.

The complete schedule of air dates and times is as follows:

Air Date Time Channel

Saturday, Sept. 4 8:00am UPN/WJZY (46)

Friday, Sept. 10 8:00pm GOV-TV/Time-Warner 16

Saturday, Sept. 11 8:00am UPN/WJZY (46)

Friday, Sept. 17 8:00pm GOV-TV/Time-Warner 16

Saturday, Sept. 18 8:00am UPN/WJZY (46)

Friday, Sept. 24 8:00pm GOV-TV/Time-Warner 16

Saturday, Sept. 25 8:00am UPN/WJZY (46)

Friday, Oct. 1 8:00pm GOV-TV/Time-Warner 16

Friday, Oct. 8 8:00pm GOV-TV/Time-Warner 16

REACH (Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health) 2010 is a federally funded program aimed at reducing the prevalence of heart disease and diabetes, primarily in the African-American community. Tobacco use is the number one preventable cause of death in America and is a leading contributor to heart disease.

Every day, approximately 3000 kids begin smoking. The goal of the "Stomping Out Tobacco" step show and its rebroadcast are to engage teens and pre-teens in addressing tobacco use. For more information on tobacco use prevention or REACH 2010, call 704-432-2010.

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Media Contact:

D.C. Lucchesi at 704-432-0344
lucchdc@co.mecklenburg.nc.us