ING KiDS ROCK LA Raises Awareness About Childhood Obesity

ING KiDS ROCK foundation has held the "grand finale" of its ING Run For Something Better program at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. The event included more than 1,500 kids in grades K-7, who ran the "final mile" after weeks of training to become ING KiDS ROCK marathoners. The foundation conducts this program as a non-competitive, non-timed event as a part of a school-based running program aimed at spreading awareness about childhood obesity and how it can be tackled through prevention.

The ING Run For Something Better training program involves children who accumulate 25.2 miles running at the time and place of their own choosing and at their own pace. They can add up their miles at home, at school, during recess and other such places comfortably. The track of the mileage is kept by a parent, teacher or facilitator. On the day of the race, each child finishes the last mile to complete their first marathon. Each child is given a medal and T-shirt for his or her accomplishment.

Rhonda Mims, president of the ING Foundation and senior vice president, ING U.S. Office of Corporate Responsibility, said: "As the official charity of ING KiDS ROCK, the ING Run For Something Better program is helping get kids on the road to adopting healthier lifestyles through exercise and healthy eating. This initiative is a fun way for kids to achieve a sense of accomplishment for their discipline leading up to the event, and we hope they continue running for years to come."

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Vikas is a staff writer for the Sustainable Development news and editorial section on Justmeans. He is an MBA with 20 years of managerial and entrepreneurial experience and global travel. He is the author of "The Power of Money" (Scholars, 2003), a book that presents a revolutionary monetary economic theory on poverty alleviation in the developing world. Vikas is also the official writer for an international social project for developing nations "Decisions for Life" run in collaboration between the ILO, the University of Amsterdam and the Indian Institute of Management.