Cessnock/Kurri Kurri Community Health Service is inviting your son to put his body over ‘the pits’ at your local high school.

Year 8 boys from three local high schools (Cessnock High School, Kurri Kurri High School and Mount View High School) are taking part in the ‘Pit Stop for Youth’ program.

‘Pit Stop for Youth’ is an interactive ‘road show’ based on a mechanical concept likening the parts of the body to parts of a bicycle. It is a program to promote the idea of maintaining the body at an optimum performance level.

‘Pit Stop for Youth’ is designed for 13-16 year old males. The aims of the program is to reduce risk-taking behaviours before they become an issue whilst increasing young men’s knowledge of health and wellness issues, the negative impact of high risk behaviours and to increase the knowledge of available health services in the local government area specifically for young men.

Program coordinator Vicki Duffie said last year 136 students took part in the program.

"Participants as well as school staff found the program valuable in addressing health needs of the participants," Vicki said.

"We hope the program will be as successful this year as it was last year.

"Information booths, manned by health professionals will be set up around the school hall with information about different health issues such as smoking, drug and alcohol, the importance of wearing a helmet and skin cancer awareness, just to mention a few."

Cessnock High School - Thursday 2 August 2007

Kurri Kurri High School Thursday - 6 September 2007

Mount View High School Thursday 20 September 2007