Princeton HealthCare System’s Annual Kids Marathon Promotes Fun, Fitness
The Kids Marathon, hosted by PHCS Community Education & Outreach and Princeton Fitness & Wellness Center, will conclude Saturday, September 10, with a 1.2-mile fun run on the grounds of Educational Testing Service (ETS), 660 Rosedale Road, Princeton.
The marathon is open to kids in grades K through 8. Participants strive to run, walk or roll 25 miles—or 2.5 miles per week—in the 10 weeks leading up to September 10. Any physical activity counts toward the total, including sports, biking, walking or even household chores.
Marathoners can also earn miles by participating in free PHCS programs that promote exercise and healthful eating. To find eligible programs, visit www.princetonhcs.org/calendar and search Kids Marathon. Kids earn incentives for completing milestones at 5, 10, 13.1, 20 and 25 miles. The fun run at ETS will complete the full 26.2-mile distance of a marathon.
Parents can learn more or register their children by visiting www.princetonhealthinmotion.com. The cost is $25, and proceeds benefit PHCS programs to promote wellness and prevent obesity and chronic disease among children. If cost is an issue, free scholarship opportunities are available. See the website for details.
Nearly 3,000 children have participated in the Kids Marathon since it was initiated in 2009 to raise awareness of the dangers of childhood obesity and promote physical activity for all children. Obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents over the past three decades, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Children and adolescents who are obese face greater risk of bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, and social and psychological issues. They also tend to be obese as adults, making them more susceptible to heart disease, stroke, osteoarthritis, some types of cancer and type 2 diabetes. Recent research shows that type 2 diabetes is a growing problem among teens as well.
About Princeton HealthCare System
Princeton HealthCare System is a comprehensive, integrated healthcare system that strives to anticipate and serve the lifelong needs of central New Jersey residents, including acute care hospital services through University Medical Center of Princeton, behavioral healthcare through Princeton House Behavioral Health, rehabilitation, home care, hospice care, ambulatory surgery, a primary and specialty medical practice, and fitness and wellness services. For more information, visit www.princetonhcs.org.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Andy Williams, 609-252-8785
anwilliams@princetonhcs.org
