ING RUN FOR SOMETHING BETTER
PUTS HUNDREDS OF KIDS ON TRACK TO HEALTHY LIVING
The inaugural ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon in March 2007 was a success on many fronts, drawing 15,000 registered runners and 30,000 cheering spectators from across the country. But it was an additional 250 local runners that received some of the biggest cheers in the final mile.
Those 250 runners were students from four middle schools in the Atlanta Public School (APS) system, completing the last mile of a progressive half marathon alongside some of the world’s best endurance athletes. This race was the “finish line” of their participation in the ING Run for Something Better, a charitable effort aimed at funding school-based running programs and giving children a positive start towards a healthier life. After record success in other cities, ING brought the program to Atlanta in 2007. The goal has been to address the issue of childhood obesity in this country by introducing students to the sport of running and the many health benefits of staying fit.
“This program will help students see how runners get mentally and physically prepared to run a marathon as well as the benefits of staying/getting fit,” said Team Leader Nadine A. O’Connor, M. ED., who is the Athletic Director at Jean Childs Young Middle School in Atlanta.
This year, for the 2008 ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon, all 18 APS middle schools and one Decatur middle school will be involved in ING Run for Something Better — giving over 1,500 students the opportunity to get on the road to better fitness.
Free to participating schools, the ING Run for Something Better program is incorporated into existing physical education and wellness curriculum. Students run several days each week for nine weeks, logging a total of 12 miles between January and March. The program culminates at the March 30 marathon, where all of the children have an opportunity to run as a group for the final 1.1 miles and cross the finish line at Centennial Olympic Park. However, Team Leader Angela Carmon, the Physical Education teacher at Beecher Hills Elementary in Atlanta thinks it isn’t only about running 1.1 miles when she said, “The students are achieving goals that begin with the end in mind; furthermore, the daily tracking in the jog log allows for ownership of each and every step.”
"The campaign is designed to encourage youth fitness. However, putting one foot in front of the other does much more than promote health and self-esteem,” said Pamela Bishop, Head of Cause Related Marketing for ING. “This is also a great way for young people to start learning about setting goals later in life, whether they're for passing tests, graduating from college, pursuing a career, financial planning or even retirement.”
Today, childhood obesity is one of the most pressing health concerns facing our nation’s youth. More than one third* of children and teens in the US are overweight or obese, and physical inactivity is a leading contributor to this epidemic. Students who commit early in life to daily physical activity — even for just 20 minutes a day — are more likely to lead healthier and fitter lives as adults. The ING Run for Something Better program is committed to steering students in a positive direction by encouraging personal development, goal setting and healthy living.
To learn more about the ING Run for Something Better, visit www.orangelaces.com.
*Statistics provided by the Center for Disease Control.
