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October 23, 2007
Run for your lifeBoardBuzz always likes to hear some good news about healthy kids, and this story from the AP (via CNN) was no exception. It seems that some students in New York City are making a run for it.
Twenty thousand students are enrolled in the "Mighty Milers, a program run by the New York Road Runners Foundation that aims to get kids up and running." It's targeted at combating childhood obesity, and seems to be working. "The children earn prizes like medals and certificates each time they notch 26 miles (42 kilometers) -- a marathon -- and they can track their progress on personal Web pages."
Not only that, but
At this year's November 4th marathon, 1,200 runners will collect fundraising pledges for the Mighty Milers and the foundation's other youth programs.In New York City, a 2003 Health Department survey found that only 53 percent of public elementary school students were at a healthy weight. Overweight children are more likely than their slimmer peers to become overweight or obese adults and to develop health problems including heart disease and diabetes.
Principal Israel Soto said Public School 57 in East Harlem is addressing the obesity challenge through a range of measures including a gym for the staff and nutrition classes for parents.
Mighty Milers fits in with his goal of nurturing healthy bodies and healthy minds.
"The research is very clear that when children are healthy, when you provide opportunities for them to get healthy, it raises their achievement level," he said.
Sperber said Mighty Milers costs just $50 per child per year, including T-shirts, prizes and training for the physical education teachers at participating schools.
And can you really put a price on something that is so clearly good for kids' health? The kids seem to be enjoying it too.
Nine-year-old Cierra Agosto said she loves the program."When we didn't have Mighty Milers, we didn't have so many activities," she said. "We never got to do push-ups and sit-ups before."
Cierra boasted that her friend Katherine Rojas, also 9, is the fastest runner in the class; she can do a lap in 15 seconds.
"That makes me feel good about myself," said Katherine, petite and ponytailed. "And it helps you get muscles."
Does your school district have similar programs to help kids get fit? Leave a comment and tell us about it.
Posted October 23, 2007 4:44 PM | Health & Wellness | Students
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