DALLAS, Nov. 14, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The American Stroke Association today announced the winner of its 2012 Hip Hop Stroke Video Competition.
Kids ages 10 to 16 were invited in May to submit videos that demonstrated artistic ability and originality while visually illustrating the stroke warning signs and risk factors via the song, "Enlighten the World on Stroke." The winning hip hop stroke video can be viewed at www.strokeassociation.org/hiphopcontest.
The grand-prize winners are The SABGC Teens of The Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club of Richmond (Va.). Honorable Mention went to Snapback Kingz of The Boys & Girls Club of Greensboro (N.C.).
Hip hop professionals — including actor and TV personality Terrence J and Cheryl "Salt" James from the hip hop group Salt-n-Pepa — judged and selected the winning videos.
"I was very impressed with the SABGC Teens video and their originality in bringing to life the American Stroke Association's hip hop stroke song 'Enlighten the World on Stroke.' Their approach to video storytelling was artful and entertaining and should definitely help people of all ages learn the warning signs of stroke and what to do in a stroke emergency," Terrence J said.
Stroke is the No. 4 cause of death and a leading cause of severe, long-term disability in America. Yet, 93 percent of Americans do not think of stroke as a major health concern, according to the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association.
Through the American Stroke Association, people are being made aware of an easy way to recognize the stroke warning signs. Just remember F.A.S.T. and the stroke symptoms that come on suddenly:
F - Face drooping
A - Arm weakness
S - Speech difficulty
T - Time to call 9-1-1.
"The SABGC Teens are impressive and outstanding young talent," said Cheryl "Salt" James. "Their video entry for the Hip Hop Stroke Video Contest definitely outshined the competition. This contest did two things: It gave kids the opportunity to live out a dream of making a national music video and it also gave them the platform to help educate the public about a serious health threat to our community: Stroke."
The SABGC Teens have earned a meet-and-greet with Terrence J in Spring 2013, as well as a large-screen television and Beats Headphone for their Boys & Girls Club.
Resources :
To learn more about stroke, click here.
To learn about ways to give to the American Stroke Association, click here.
To learn more about stroke and its impact on African-Americans, visit Power To End Stroke.
To find out if you are in ideal health, visit My Life Check.
About the American Stroke Association
Created in 1997 as a division of the American Heart Association, the American Stroke Association works to improve stroke prevention, diagnosis and treatment to save lives from stroke — America's fourth leading cause of death and a leading cause of long-term disability. To do this, we fund scientific research, help people better understand and avoid stroke, encourage government support, guide healthcare professionals, and provide information to stroke survivors and their caregivers to enhance their quality of life. To learn more, call 1-888-4STROKE.
The American Heart Association logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=9940
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Media Contact:
Elisa Ramirez-Johnson, (214) 706-1508, Elisa.Ramirez-Johnson@heart.org