Warm-up: Ronald McDonald House Charities 2008 Read and Run Marathon Mile
Get ready, get set, get fit…that’s the challenge being put to thousands of children throughout the area who will be participating in the 2009 Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Florida® Kids K and Kids Read, Run and Recycle Marathon Mile. Supported by a $20,000 grant from the charity, the event takes place during the 6th annual Palm Beaches Marathon Festival in downtown West Palm Beach.
The kids events will be held Saturday, December 5 along the Flagler Drive Intracoastal Waterway in West Palm Beach. The race begins at 9:30 a.m. and features several heats for children up to the age of 12. Advance registration is $15 per child and includes a finisher’s medal, backpack, t-shirt, numbered racing bib and goodie bag.
The races, which last year drew approximately 3,000 children, are part of a “Get Out Get Active” Fitness Program, a partnership launched by the Palm Beaches Marathon, the School District of Palm Beach County and Palm Beach County Commissioner Jeff Koons to bring fitness awareness to children at an early age.
This fall, physical education teachers at elementary schools in Palm Beach County are training and encouraging students to run a full, 26.2-mile marathon, 2 miles per week, leading up to the Palm Beaches Marathon Festival race weekend. Students complete their final mile during the Kids Marathon Mile. The program also requires students to read 15 minutes each day on topics including fitness and nutrition. The 2009 event will go a step further by encouraging participants to recycle their gently used running shoes. The kids will add their pairs of shoes to hundreds of others that will be donated to local organizations that serve families in need.
Registration is available through elementary and middle school physical education departments.
“Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Florida’s mission is to make a difference in children’s lives. Supporting the Kids K and Kids Read, Run and Recycle Marathon Mile is a great way to encourage adopting a healthy, active, balanced lifestyle, while having fun,” said Ricky Wade, McDonald’s owner operator. “It is an ongoing commitment that is evident in RMHC’s partnership with programs such as this, and in McDonald’s restaurants with expanded menu choices and easy access to nutrition education information.”
For more information on the Kids K, the Kids Read, Run and Recycle Marathon Mile and The Palm Beaches Marathon Festival, visit www.marathonpb.com.
About Ronald McDonald House Charities
Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Florida® is dedicated to helping local children live happier and healthier lives. Since its inception in 1988, it has given over $4.2 million in grants to local programs. In the Palm Beach/Treasure Coast area, these include Junior Achievement’
