Bender Helper Impact

One of the most impactful and rewarding experiences I’ve had at the agency has been working with Konami’s DanceDanceRevolution (DDR) franchise. Since it was first introduced to North American video game consoles over 10 years ago, DDR has received a tremendous amount of exposure for its get-up-and-move-style gameplay and unique gaming experience.
 
The game is well known, and not only because of the fantastic press it’s garnered. DDR has invaded pop culture in a way I’ve never seen before with a video game. The game has made appearances in Ugly Betty, The Office, a Madonna video, Family Guy, and more. It even inspired the Broadway show "Dance Revolution" and a television show as part of the "KOL Secret Slumber Party" on CBS.  Witnessing DDR evolve into the pop culture phenomenon has been awesome, but the true reward of the revolution that is DDR is the many lives across the nation changed by a video game.
 
Stemming from the realization of the dangers tied to obesity, Konami entered into the first-of-its-kind partnership with the state of West Virginia to incorporate DDR as an official part of the physical education curriculum in public schools. You see? People can get active AND have fun at the same time! In addition to the schools, there are families, trainers, health clubs and fitness professionals that view DDR as the perfect tool to attract those people who have previously stayed away from exercise because it was too “boring” or “uninteresting.”

A few months ago, I was introduced to Rasha Adella. Rasha is 31 years old and never really engaged in sports growing up, nor was she an active adult – until she was introduced to the Revolution! She started playing DDR with her son in an effort to spend time with him and dance, something she has always loved to do, but never really participated in. She professed that once she began playing DDR, she was immediately hooked. She was not aware of the life-changing experience DDR would bring her in 13 months.

It is a privilege to spotlight Rasha Adella, one of the most inspiring DDR success stories I’ve ever had the opportunity to hear. Below is the exclusive B/HI Blab interview with Rasha, with images of her personal transformation. She is stunning inside and out and her path humbles me.

Q:  How has DDR changed your life?  
A: Hmmm…I could tell you a million ways DDR has changed my life, but here are just a few.  I can walk MANY flights of stairs without being winded. For the first time in over 13 years I can cross my legs.  I can fit in an airplane seat without a seatbelt extension. I can race against my son (who would’ve known that only a year after starting DDR, I CAN RUN!).  I have so much energy and am no longer depressed.  I feel happiness for the first time in many many years!!! I can wear different types of clothes and am not limited to shopping in only a select group of stores that only specialize in plus size clothing. I am confident. Most importantly my health is no longer in jeopardy so that I can be around for years to come and watch my son grow into a man.

Q: How many pounds have you lost playing DDR?
A: I’ve lost 70 pounds playing DDR, but because of DDR I have been able to change my lifestyle and have lost 165 pounds to date.

Q: What would you like to tell others about DDR?
A: DDR is a great way to get started in fitness.  It’s a ton of fun, even if you’re not a great dancer.  All it takes is a bit of motivation and determination to get on the mat at least 60 minutes a day. Once you get your metabolism going, there is no turning back, and although I still dance on the mat just about everyday, I now do it just for fun.  DDR doesn’t make me feel like I’m exercising.  After I saw that “hey I’m looking a lot smaller”, I decided that I would change my eating habits.  After I replaced my soda with water and traded in fried chicken for turkey, the weight literally just fell off. It’s also changed the habits of my family.  They are eating a lot healthier and I’ve motivated my son to join the track and field team, plus he is still active with DDR (although he is nowhere as good as I am, I beat him EVERY time).  He’s lost 12 pounds.  I feel so proud knowing that I am keeping his motivation going.  This is the FIRST time that I have been so motivated to keep going.

Q: You’ve mentioned recently that you were working with your school district to incorporate DDR into school programs, tell me more.
A: I am currently in talks with the San Bruno School District since there are a lot of overweight children at my sons’ junior high school.  I just want kids AND adults to know, that exercise doesn’t have to be boring. I have recently had a few private donations of DDR mats so that the school doesn’t have an excuse (lack of funding) for not adopting this truly amazing program.  Often times when state funding runs out (gets spent on crap), the schools are ALWAYS the first to suffer and the first programs cut include P.E., music, and other extracurricular activities that should be there to keep our children fit because they are our future.  I really am pushing for this to be a HUGE project and I’m hoping that more parents rally behind this idea and hopefully make a change themselves. Often times, obese children come from obese parents.  Most kids will eat what the parent provides for them and most of the time the food isn’t healthy; it’s what is affordable at that time.  I want to teach parents that eating healthy, staying active and being fit doesn’t have to be expensive and that change is ALWAYS possible if you believe it can be.

Q: You saw your family after not seeing them for three years. What did they say when they saw you?
A: Well I actually will see my entire family soon, but, recently, I saw my brother (haven’t seen him in three years) and lets just say there were a lot of tears.  He didn’t even recognize me.  He said I looked like I did when I was 12…I thought that was funny considering that was a very long time ago.  I will be recording the reunion with my family and they are going to be floored.  The last time I saw them I weighed 330 pounds. They will be speechless and I can’t wait.


So there you have it.

Rasha’s story truly highlights just how life-changing DDR is, and her story is part of the growing number of individuals using video games as a way to stay active and fit. I’m honored to represent Konami for bringing an entertainment product to market that is impacting people’s health and the future of our nation. So much so, Michelle Obama recently gave DDR a First Lady "shout out" in a speech she gave about obesity.

[Follow Marisa @MediaMarisa]