|
Charity Run Promotes Health
and Fitness, Raises Funds For Area Schools and Helps Prevent Childhood
Obesity Through Popular School Program
MOBILE, Ala. (September 26, 2007) --
Promoting health and fitness for kids and their families, raising
thousands of dollars for area schools, and helping prevent childhood
obesity are just some of the many achievements of the popular Food World
Senior Bowl Charity Run School Program.
Held in conjunction with this year’s 20th
anniversary Food World Senior Bowl Charity Run, set for November 3 in
downtown Mobile, the Charity Run School Program will once again give
students and their families in Mobile and Baldwin Counties the
opportunity to participate in the race’s Healthy Families, Healthy Kids
Fun Run, as well as its 10K and 5K events, at a reduced rate.
In addition, all School Program
participants have not only helped the race raise over $4.2 million which
has been donated to Gulf Coast charities by the Food World - Senior Bowl
Charitable Partnership, but have helped generate much needed funds for
their own schools as the Charity Run donates monies back to each school
based on its total of number of entrants in the race.
Proceeds raised by the Partnership have
been distributed to several Gulf Coast charities impacting youth in
recent years. Specifically, a major donation made to Thomas Hospital in
Fairhope this spring went to fund its new “ShapeDown” program, a 10-week
weight-management program for children and teens that has made a major
difference for many local children and their families.
“The Food Word Senior Bowl Charity Run is
proud to promote health and fitness for students and their families
throughout the Gulf Coast with this popular program,” said Senior Bowl
president Steve Hale. “This is a fun, family event that not only gets
kids and their parents involved in an organized running activity, but
also creates significant charitable contributions to all participating
schools, as well as charities along the Gulf Coast, some of which are
helping curb childhood obesity in our area.”
Over 3,000 students and their families in
Mobile and Baldwin counties registered for last year’s Charity Run
school program, making the Charity Run’s One-Mile Fun Run one of the
largest one-mile races in the U.S. in 2006.
All students and their families in Mobile
and Baldwin Counties can now sign up for either the 5K, 10K or Fun Run
events through their schools. Students may register for just $8 each,
while parent registration is also reduced to just $10 each.
The 5K and 10K races will start on
Government St. at Hamilton in downtown Mobile at 8:30 a.m., while the
Healthy Families, Healthy Kids Fun Run will start at 10:00 a.m. The 5K
race was a new addition to the event last year.
“We added the 5K race to our event to
appeal to a wider range of potential participants, which is especially
true for the school program,” said Senior Bowl media relations director
Vic Knight. “Allowing students, particularly from area middle and high
schools, to participate in the longer distances through the school
program has made the program even more appealing to all schools in
Mobile and Baldwin counties.”
Because of the tremendous growth in the
participation in the Fun Run in recent years, runners will be treated to
a flat, fast Fun Run course that begins on Church Street at Royal near
Ft. Conde in downtown Mobile and finish at the same location as the 5K
and 10K races on Government St. at Royal St.
Each participant will receive the race’s
popular long sleeve, heavyweight cotton T-shirt, a giant goodie bag full
of sponsor giveaways, food items, candy, etc., and admittance to the
Food World Family Fun Festival held at the Mobile Convention Center
following the event featuring plenty of free food, interactives, a
special children’s area and live music.
All finishers also receive a ribbon
commemorating their accomplishment, and the boys and girls Fun Run
winners will be introduced to the crowd during the 2008 Under Armour
Senior Bowl football game.
Schools can also generate significant
funds based on the number of students who enter through the various
revenue producing plans that are in place for the race. The Charity Run
will donate $2 back to each school for every registered runner and, for
every 50 runners registered, the Charity Run will donate an additional
$50 to the school.
There is also an additional $1,000 prize
awarded to the school that finishes with the most total entries, as well
as the highest percentage of entries based on total enrollment.
In 2006, Council Traditional School in
Mobile won the award and the accompanying $1,000 prize for most entries
with over 600 registrants, while Gilliard Elementary won the award for
most entries based on total enrollment.
Over $10,000 was given back to the
participating schools by the race through the 2006 School Program.
The deadline for students to enter through
their schools is Friday, October 19, with registered students and
parents receiving their run numbers, T-shirts and goodie bags at their
schools the week of the race.
For further information on the Charity Run
School Program, parents and students should contact their school’s P.E.
teacher, call the Senior Bowl at 251-438-2276 or visit the race’s
website at www.seniorbowl.com.
|
