University of Houston Athletics
Councilwomen Holm to Appear at Marathon Kids Kick Off Celebration
10/9/2009 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
Oct. 9, 2009
HOUSTON -
For the first time in school history, the University of Houston hosts the Marathon Kids Kick Off Celebration at 10 a.m. Saturday at the UH Tom Tellez Track and Field Stadium.
Highlighting the Opening Ceremony, Councilwomen Pam Holm will declare Saturday "Houston Marathon Kids Day" in front of an anticipated 5,000 K-5th grade school children and their parents. Following her welcome, Holm will commence the Opening Flag Lap when she accompanies other dignitaries on the track. High School of Performing Arts teacher Warren Sneed, along with a local jazz saxophonist, is scheduled to play the "Star Spangled Banner" as the group takes the first lap.
The celebration continues when participants take the track to complete their first mile of the marathon. Each child who crosses the finish line receives a Marathon Kids Rewards water bottle.
Throughout the day, Houston student-athletes will participate in fun activities with the children, encouraging an active lifestyle, in addition to signing autographs.
The marathon is stretched over six months with the goal for every child to complete 1/4 to 1/2 mile at a time, running/walking a total of 26.2 miles. During this time, children are encouraged to eat five servings of both fruits and vegetables a day for 26.2 days each month.
About Marathon Kids
Marathon Kids is in its 13th year of promoting a healthy and active lifestyle to elementary-aged children through free programming. In addition to hosting a marathon throughout the academic year, Marathon Kids also supports a schoolyard gardening program.
This nation-wide organization has had successful participation in Austin, Dallas, Rio Grande Valley (Harlingen), Los Angeles, Chicago and Baltimore.
Mission Statement
"Our mission is to build joyful community around children and be quickly accepted into public, private and home schools as a free, innovative, celebratory fitness and nutrition program, resonating with the child... and with the child's family. The goal is for the child to develop the love and habit of moving through space and to carry forward the power of muscular, nutritional and psychological well being."
For more information, visit www.marathonkids.org.
