SWIMMING FOR HEALTH: ONE STROKE AT A TIME  (SAN FRANCISCO,CA) Lisa Edwards  (Colville Confederated Tribes, WA), pauses for a victory salute during her Oct. 8 swim from Alcatraz to San Francisco. Alison Saylor, a South End Rowing Club (SERC) support swimmer, cheers her on. Each Native swimmer was paired with a veteran SERC swimmer for the crossing and training swims. Edwards was among a group of Native Americans from Alaska, Washington and California who participated in the 10th Annual PATHSTAR Alcatraz Swim Week (Sept. 30 to Oct. 8, 2012) in San Francisco and Bay Area locales. A leading risk factor of diabetes, obesity is affecting American Indian/Alaska Natives, especially youth, at an alarming rate. According to the National Indian Health Board, 1 in 3 Native children are overweight or obese before their 5th birthday.The swim week event is a component of a year-round program to inspire healthy nutrition and active lifestyles practices in tribal communities. Visit: www,pathstar.org Photo Credit: Colin Gift