FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Danny Elfenbein
PR Racing, Inc.
(305) 278-8668
(352) 256-3353
88,000 MIAMI-DADE COUNTY STUDENTS GET MORE SCHOOL BASED PHYSICAL
ACTIVITY THROUGH ING RUN FOR SOMETHING BETTER PROGRAM
ING AND FIT MIAMI FOUNDATION KICK-OFF RUNNING PROGRAM FOR
COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS TO PROMOTE HEALTH AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
MIAMI (August 11, 2005) – As Miami-Dade County Public School students kick
off the school year on Monday, organizers and the title sponsor of the ING
Miami Marathon are set to kick-off a school-based running program for
88,000 middle school students. The ING Run for Something Better is a
privately funded program created by ING and the FIT MIAMI Foundation in
conjunction with the ING Miami Marathon and Half Marathon and in
partnership with Miami-Dade County Public Schools. The inaugural running
program will motivate and challenge each middle school student in
Miami-Dade County to complete a full marathon, covering 26.2 miles in 25
weeks. On Sunday, January 29, 2006, students who have completed 25 miles
through the school program will be invited to run "The Final Mile" during
the ING Miami Marathon, finishing at the official finish line with
professional international marathoners and more than 10,000 runners at
Bayfront Park.
The ING Run for Something Better program is part of ING's commitment to the
ING Miami Marathon and the community of South Florida. The running program
allows Miami Dade Public Schools to construct a strong focus on physical
activity and healthy lifestyles while supporting the physical education
curriculum already established in the schools. The program encourages
children to lead active and healthy lifestyles while engaging them in a
goal-oriented program. "Running is a fun and fulfilling thing for anyone to
do," said Dave Brenner, the Program Coordinator. "By motivating our
children to enjoy running, we can inspire parents, friends and neighbors to
run and positively affect the health and future of our entire community."
A recent study by the National Center for Health Services indicates that
30.4 % of children ages 12-19 are overweight or at risk of being
overweight. An additional concern for children in South Florida is a higher
frequency of overweight adolescents in minority populations, where over 40%
of Hispanic and Non-Hispanic black children ages 12-19 are overweight or at
risk of becoming overweight.
"The ING Run for Something Better program reflects our desire to support
and enhance the sport of running in a way that will positively affect
people of all ages and walks of life – including children and young
people," said Toby Hoden, chief marketing officer for ING US Financial
Services. "We are thrilled to be teaming with the FIT MIAMI Foundation to
provide a program that helps motivate and inspire the 88,000 middle school
children in Miami-Dade County to lead physically active and healthy
lifestyles. Our hope is that this program will inspire life long fitness
goals among the young people in Miami-Dade County."
Organizers have printed program material for the ING Run for Something
Better in English and Spanish in order to communicate with the Hispanic
community in Miami. "It is important that the entire community knows that
we are here to provide them with the means to a healthier and happier
future," said Robert Pozo, Race Director for the ING Miami Marathon. "The
ING Miami Marathon belongs to Miami-Dade County and it is our mission to
enrich the lives of everyone in this diverse, cultured and great
community."
The ING Run for Something Better culminates on January 29, 2006 where race
organizers plan to host the largest single day kids' race in the world, as
everyone completes the "Final Mile." Each child who completes the program
receives a special race t-shirt, a finisher’s medal, and other great items
to celebrate their accomplishment as the youngest marathoners in South
Florida.
The ING Miami Marathon and Half Marathon is at 6 a.m. on Sunday, January
29, 2006.
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