ING Run for Something Better

JAN 28, 2007

It’s official … Miami kids are on the move! This year, 1,700 middle school students officially crossed the finish line of the ING Miami Marathon. But what’s their ultimate goal? Greater fitness and better health. And thanks to the ING Run for Something Better program, these kids are well on their way.

ING sponsors races across the country to raise money for school fitness programs — all with the goal to help battle childhood obesity. And judging by the great turnout here in Miami, kids are getting the message.

Decked out in a sea of ING orange, these middle-school champions ran a special one-mile course that ended at the official finish line, completing their final mile of a 15- week training program, during which they ran a total of 26.2 miles.

Offering support and words of wisdom to the kids was Dr. Jayne Greenberg, District Director Physical Education and Health Literacy Miami-Dade County Public Schools. “Running and physical fitness is about setting goals for yourself,” she explained. “You’re never too young to start — or, in my case, too old, to keep striving!”

It’s a message these middle-schoolers took those to heart. Eleven-year-old Mateo Wiegering set a goal to lose weight through his participation in the ING Run for Something Better.

Mateo is thrilled to report he’s lost 12 pounds during his training for the program.

Mateo’s friend Daniel Zatarian, 11, shared his own reasons for participating: “It’s cool because you get to run the actual marathon — and you get a medal.”

Bill Thompson, president of North Palm Beach Elementary, is a runner himself, and joined ING in Miami to compete in the half marathon. “Childhood obesity is a huge problem,” said Thompson. “If we can get kids to eat right, and make exercise fun through programs like this, we’ll help them establish healthy eating habits that will last a lifetime.”