The YMCA of Riverside County is expanding its healthy initiative to combat childhood obesity

MURRIETA, Calif. - Sept. 25, 2015 - PRLog -- The YMCA of Riverside County is expanding its healthy initiative to combat childhood obesity, which affects 38.2% of children in the County.The Earn a Bike program is designed to increase the amount of physical activity performed by elementary school-aged children and improve nutritional content of their diets in order to lower the rate of childhood obesity and Type 2 Diabetes in the community.

The eight week program will now be offered at Tovashal Elementary School in Murrieta, along with Lakeland Village School in Lake Elsinore which is starting its second season of Earn a Bike.  The program consists of exercises and physical education classes (3x per week) including team sport skills, yoga, soccer, obstacle courses, and nutrition classes (1x per week) for both participants and their parent. All exercise activities are charted and milestones are recognized on a weekly basis. The program will begin on October 5^th and run through December 4^th, culminating with a graduation ceremony where students who completed the program requirements receive a new bicycle, helmet, and lock to continue physical activity at home and in their community.

Childhood obesity continues to rise in our communities, with lower-class economic groups being highly affected by this epidemic. Many of the schools selected for this program have had their physical education courses cut down to as little one hour every two weeks. Lack of physical education and opportunity for physical activity in schools, especially low income schools, is contributing to the obesity and health epidemic in our communities and in our country. This free program from the Murrieta Family YMCA is made possible thanks to the funding provided by caring organizations such as Edwards Life Sciences Fund, the Salah Foundation, and the Pacific Life Foundation.

“The YMCA of Riverside County believes that these solutions must be community-wide collaborations and consider cultural and environmental factors such as poverty, access to parks and recreation, access to healthy foods, advocacy for proper funding of physical education in schools, and cultural differences in food preference or traditions,” says Jeff McBride, the YMCA of Riverside County’s Chief Executive Officer.

The YMCA of Riverside County operates as part of the YMCA of Orange County. Learn more about the YMCA of Riverside County at www.ymcarc.org.

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About YMCARC: At the Y, strengthening community is our cause. With a focus on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, YMCA programs celebrate and honor common values of respect, responsibility, honesty, and caring by infusing character development into the foundation and practice of all our programs; from youth sports and group exercise classes to parent/child programs and community services– Y programs build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all.

The YMCA of Riverside County is a nonprofit, charitable organization that serves the entire community. Donations support our scholarship program and Our Commitment – To strive to keep programs open for all. Whether you are looking to get fit, give back, or meet new friends, the Y has something for you! JOIN PLAY GIVE VOLUNTEER  www.ymcarc.org