Winners Announced in HopeLab's Global Competition to Get Ki...( - More than $300000 in prizes award...),Health

- More than $300,000 in prizes awarded for new product ideas from around

the world -

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., March 17 /PRNewswire/ -- HopeLab today announced the winners of Ruckus Nation, a global idea competition to get kids moving. The $50,000 grand prize, awarded at an event held at the de Young Museum in San Francisco, went to "Dancing Craze," submitted by Stacy Cho, 30, from Seattle, Wash. People of all ages were invited to submit ideas for new products that will increase physical activity in kids. Ruckus Nation, co-sponsored by the Pioneer Portfolio of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, attracted 429 entries from teams in 37 countries and 41 U.S. states.

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"I wake up every day and look for ways to motivate kids," said Cho, a middle school teacher, moments after she was named the grand prize winner. "I looked around at the games kids were playing and realized that the piece that was missing was physical activity. My idea is all about movement and music and fun to get kids moving."

"Dancing Craze" is an interactive game with wearable motion sensors that make your virtual character come alive as you dance. It lets you pick your music, record your moves, and share your virtual dance video online. With "Dancing Craze" you can also create group dances or test your skills by mimicking videos from other players, and log on to the "Dancing Craze" website to see whose moves are voted number one.

Ruckus Nation Grand Prize Judges also recognized "iBlob," submitted by Sarah Tranum, 30, Chicago, Ill., with a special honorary mention and a $5,000 prize.

"Ruckus Nation was a global call f
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