Program gets kids moving after the bell rings
GREEN BAY — Local schools participating in the Bellin Run Kids for Running program are fighting obesity one student at a time. More than 1,900 kids will take part in this year’s Bellin Run Kids for Running program. “That’s almost 2,000 kids who are learning how to live a healthy lifestyle now and into their future,” said Randy Van Straten, Bellin Run race director.
The Kids for Running program prepares local kids in grades 3-8 to run or walk the Bellin Run, which is scheduled for Saturday, June 14. Many students train as part of their after-school program activities or running programs.
“Our training and participation in the Kids for Running program goes beyond the benefits of physical fitness,” said Fred Kramer, Kids for Running coordinator for Luxemburg-Casco Intermediate School. “It’s about setting a goal and meeting it. It’s about making a commitment and seeing it through. We have more than 20 parents involved and a few grandparents as well, so it’s also about connecting families and bringing people closer together.”
More than 160 students from Luxemburg-Casco School will participate in this year’s race. They will join students from schools throughout Northeast Wisconsin that are also participating in the Bellin Run through Kids for Running.
The success of Kids for Running led Bellin race officials to expand the program into the middle schools and add a new high school program.
“As more young people establish an active, healthy lifestyle, we can expect to see our communities as a whole get healthier as children influence parents, parents influence friends and so on,” said Van Straten. “We greatly appreciate all that the Kids for Running team leaders from the schools do to inspire these young runners. In addition to helping the kids learn how to be active safely, they’re teaching them lifelong lessons about perseverance and wellness.”
While many students will run or walk the entire 10K (6.2 mile) route on June 14, many of those 12 and younger will showcase their running skills at the Johnson Bank Kids Run & Fun event on Friday, June 13. The Run & Fun event will be held in conjunction with the Bellin Run Health Expo at Baird Place Park.
For more information about the Kids for Running program, or to sign up, contact Tia Schartner, Kids for Running coordinator, at (920) 559-0010.
The Bellin Run, a 10K (6.2 mile) run/walk in Green Bay, Wis., is the fourth-largest timed 10K race in the nation with 12,908 participants. Established in 1977, the Bellin Run features elite runners, a children’s run, corporate challenge, running expo, all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner and a number of other events and activities for runners and their families.
This year’s 32nd annual Bellin Run is June 14, 2008. For more information, or to register, go to: www.bellinrun.com.
