Bercht First Place Win Spawns Criticism
October 12, 2011 in Fresh, World Hoop Day
Stephanie Bercht Fire Hooping
Ann Marie Puckett of Calumet, Pennsylvania, wrote, “I respectfully disagree, I do not think plastic hula hoops will benefit anyone for more than a few moments. Stephanie’s talent is rare, and most of those hoops will go into landfills after a few moments of use. I wish the judges would have created a contest to benefit sick or needy individuals. What a waste — IMO.” And things began to degenerate from there, prompting a response from Bercht herself who writes, “It breaks my heart to see some negativity here, so I feel the need to explain my choice. I understand that there are a lot of wonderful and deserving charities, and I really struggled picking one. In the end I chose something close to my heart, World Hoop Day. It is not just about giving away hula hoops. It’s about giving a way to feel joy. I know, it’s a small thing, but this is what I chose to support. And kids that grow up too fast – because they’re starving, because they’re poor, because they have to care for their younger siblings and parents even though they are only children themselves – grow up without the basics of childhood bliss and joy. So this one organization, World Hoop Day, their medium to giving joy is a hula hoop. So simple. And $1000 for World Hoop Day can go a very long way. They won’t be affecting only one child or one community. It will be at least 6 different communities. That is a lot of lives they can touch with $1000. It could have been anything, but it’s hula hoops. It’s so basic, and safe. Yet it can give so much that isn’t immediately addressed when we talk about physical needs. We can all do something to support some cause or another, and this was my choice. I hope people can appreciate that for what it’s worth.” We do Stephanie, we do, and offer you our most sincere applause. You can enjoy her award winning video here.
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monahowell said on October 12, 2011
Seems to Me that Ann Marie Puckett could use Some Positive Hoop Energy !
dwiizie said on October 12, 2011
LOL! We should send her one on WHD….
dwiizie said on October 12, 2011
She was just campaigning for Rommel in the same contest and doesn’t like that her friend didn’t win. I think she was just bashing hoops to bash them because he didn’t (found her on FB…. Republican…) Oh well. Keep on sippin’ that hatorade…
Lara Eastburn said on October 12, 2011
Stephanie … what a perfect, perfect, perfect response. Just beautiful.
Tilly Whirls said on October 12, 2011
That woman needs a hoop. This is my response that I posted on Stephanie’s video:
Congrats Stephanie! Hooping has changed my life in so many great ways. I went from being totally sedentary with high anxiety and severe seasonal affective disorder to losing 25 pounds through hooping and finding something that gives me such pure joy, bliss and freedom.
My hoop is my happy place and now I’m even teaching hoop classes at the local community center. I just want to share the joy I’ve found in it and am so glad you get to do the same through World Hoop Day. Hooping provides so much more than a “toy.” It gives joy, it gives hope, it gives strength and fitness, it fights obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis and depression, they provide a reason to smile, laugh, play, dance and move to your own beat, and SO much more.
I was doing hoop demonstrations at a festival Sunday and my boss’ kids were there hooping with me. I gave them hula hoops. My boss just told me the next day they were playing “Leslie” where one would play the hoop teacher and the other the student. That’s unbelievable to me, that I’ve done something to impact these young lives and that it’s bringing them joy and physical activity. My sister-in-law and nieces are hoopers too now.
It’s transformative. Anyone who says otherwise needs a hoop.
If you want to see the joy that a simple circle can bring to children IN NEED OF JOY, watch this video by Hoola for Happiness. They have a similar mission: http://vimeo.com/28536491
Tilly Whirls said on October 12, 2011
And I didn’t mention—the cause that stick-in-the-mud Ann wanted to win would have helped one person, while Stephanie’s cause will help hundreds.
joanw said on October 12, 2011
Stephanie, your cause is a wonderful choice and your response was perfect!
Topaz Dragonfly said on October 18, 2011
Actually, Tilly, just to clarify – though Ms. Puckett may, in fact, be a “stick in the mud”, if she were supporting Rommel, as I did (though I did not know the man, personally)… then that cause would have actually gone to keep a much needed recovery center afloat – locally, in the Huntington, WV area for at least a few more months. It is not much money, but with being in such an impoverished area and totally reliant on donations, The Healing Place program treats 26 individuals at a time in a state where opioid addiction is rampant [according to the stats, only 6,070 were able to receive treatment in 2010 and at last count in 2006, "over 42,000 WV residents reported needing addiction treatment for illicit drugs (especially opiates), but did not receive treatment"].
Since overdose deaths have now surpassed deaths from car accidents AND firearms in WV, that leaves many children HERE in the US without parents due to the disease of addiction. While I do not criticize Stephanie for her choice in charity, I’m actually am glad to see someone wanting to share their passion with the world, just as I do (a liberal musician, dancer, artist, activist who personally suffered a loss of childhood due to growing up in poverty, here in WV)! We all do what we can to make the world a better place, but I simply lamented the fact that the money from the event did not go to a local cause.
I love my home state, but it faces many dangers… addiction being one AND mountaintop removal being another (which I believe go hand-in-hand)! Do some research and help out all that you can. IN FACT, believe it or not, there are permits to mine up-stream from New River that would dump toxic sludge into the streams and threaten the very existence of Bridge Day!!! ~ We need help too.
http://blogs.wvgazette.com/coaltattoo/2011/07/12/residents-challenge-fayette-mine-permit/