Kids fishing derby set for Nov. 5-6

The National Pediatric Blood Pressure Awareness Foundation (NPBPAF) will host its fundraiser - The Cabelas Blood Pressure 4 Kids Fishing Derby....Fishing, Fun, and Awareness - Nov. 5-6.

Registration for the fishing derby begins at 9 a.m., both Saturday and Sunday and the first 25 kids to register each day will receive a free Zebco rod courtesy of Cabelas.

This annual event will promote the organization’s fundraiser cookbook entitled, “Cooking 4 Kids” that is available for $12 and features a winning cover design by a Baton Rouge third grader. “Cooking 4 Kids” has over 175 recipes including two from First Lady Supriya Jindal and Trapper Joe’s alligator sauce piquant recipe from the History Channel’s Swamp People which he’ll be on-site cooking his famous recipe at 9 a.m. on Saturday.

Also on Saturday, other members of the Swamp People cast will be on hand from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to sign autographs and pose for pictures with fans. There will be an archery competition each day as well. Most importantly, the NPBPAF will have registered nurses providing free blood pressure screenings for children ages three to 17. This will allow every parent an opportunity to receive a base line blood pressure for their child.

“We are delighted to host our first annual fundraiser to build awareness for pediatric blood pressure and raise funds for this important cause,” said Celeste Goodwin, president and founder of the NPBPAF. "After I nearly lost my own son, Matthew, to undiagnosed hypertension when he was four and a half, I decided to start the National Pediatric Blood Pressure Awareness Foundation in November of 2009, to educate the public and other parents on this serious issue as well as work with the health care industry to encourage regular blood pressure screens for all children over age three."

Founded in 2009, the NPBPAF is a national, non-profit organization founded to ensure that every child received routine blood pressure monitoring through the physician’s office, emergency departments and any other facility that cares for children. This will be achieve through raising awareness with health care providers including the physicians, nurses and other support staff along with parents. Our goal is to educate parents on the important benefits of having routine blood pressure monitoring beginning at age 3 as recommended by both the American Heart Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

An estimated 2 million children in our country have undiagnosed hypertension (high blood pressure). This is a serious issue that if left untreated can lead to permanent organ failure, stroke, heart attack or even possibly death.

To learn more, visit: http://www.bloodpressure4kids.org/