AHOSKIE – Three Hertford County groups and one from Gates County received grants Monday at Roanoke-Chowan Hospital (RCH).

The awarded money, funded by the Regional Community Benefits Grants Program, totaled $90,000.

&uot;It’s the hospital’s pleasure to participate. This community benefit program is a great way to look at the needs of the community and enable you to do things that will help you benefit them,&uot; stated Sue Lassiter, president of RCH, prior to the check presentation ceremony.

Roanoke-Chowan Community Health Center was granted $51,500 for an adult diabetes prevention and management program.

Hertford County 4H received $13,000 to fund a diabetes camp that will address youth obesity and diabetes prevention.

The camp will target 50 children, ages 5-12, who have a high risk of developing Type II diabetes. It is tentatively scheduled for a week in July 2008.

Hertford County 4H was also awarded an additional $5,500 for a proposed expanded food and nutrition education program that will reach out to low income youth, grades 3-6, within the county.

T.S. Cooper Elementary School in Gates County will benefit from a new fitness course because of a $20,000 awarded to Albemarle Regional Health Services on their behalf.

That money will be used to build a 1/8-mile track, complete with a exercise and fitness circuit.

According to the information provided by Roanoke Chowan Hospital, the fitness course will also be available for community use when not being used by the school.