UnitedHealthcare’s partnership with the IronKids event series in the US continues to flourish. The healthcare firm is teaming up with IronKids at two events: the UnitedHealthcare IronKids Las Vegas Fun Run and UnitedHealthcare IronKids Chattanooga Fun Run – with a primary aim to inspire and motivate young people to lead active, positive and healthy lifestyles.
UnitedHealthcare IronKids Las Vegas Fun Run
The UnitedHealthcare IronKids Las Vegas Fun Run takes place on Saturday 4 October and will begin at 09:00 local time at Henderson Pavilion – 200 South Green Valley Parkway in Henderson. Participating children and their families are encouraged to arrive early. Onsite registration and pre-event activities begin at 07:45 and include healthy snacks, games, arts and crafts, educational materials and warm-up exercises.
UnitedHealthcare mascot ‘Dr Health E Hound’ will lead warm-up exercises and join the kids at the starting line to officially kick-off the race. Families, community leaders, UnitedHealthcare employees and Ironman supporters will line the course to cheer for the young runners on their quest to be ‘IronKids’. Runners will receive race bibs, T-shirts and medals at the finish line.
Las Vegas and Henderson-area kids and families are invited to participate. The cost for registration is US$15 for kids ages 3 to 15.
This is the second year UnitedHealthcare is sponsoring the one-mile Fun Run in Nevada. The one mile fun run course for ‘triathletes to be’ will take place along portions of the 2014 Ironman 70.3 Silverman race course, which begins the next day.
UnitedHealthcare and IronKids are providing 100 free registrations to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Las Vegas, and will donate US$15 for each registered runner, up to the first 200 participants. The donation will support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Las Vegas’ after-school health programs.
“This IronKids Fun Run is a great way for children and families in Nevada to enhance their health and well-being,” said Don Giancursio, CEO, UnitedHealthcare of Nevada. “We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with the Boys & Girls Clubs and inspire young people to be active and stay healthy.”
UnitedHealthcare IronKids Chattanooga Fun Run
The UnitedHealthcare IronKids Chattanooga Fun Run took place at Ross’s Landing in downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee, on 27 September, with hundreds of young people and their families participating.
UnitedHealthcare and IronKids provided 100 free registrations to the Salvation Army of Chattanooga and donated US$15 to the organization for each registered runner, up to the first 200 participants. The US$3,000 donation will support Salvation Army of Chattanooga after-school health programs.
UnitedHealthcare and IronKids sponsored a health fair and training event for children the day before the fun run, providing free health screenings and conducting warm-up exercises and other activities with Ironman athletes and Dr Health E Hound.
“It is a thrill to help kick-off this year’s IronKids event and join hundreds of kids and their families to promote healthy living and exercise,” said Congressman Fleishmann. “I also appreciate that IronKids and UnitedHealthcare are working with organizations like the Salvation Army here in Chattanooga to provide their youth members an opportunity to participate, get free health screenings and support youth programs.”
Tackling childhood obesity
This is the third year UnitedHealthcare is supporting IronKids as part of the company’s commitment to help stem the rising tide of childhood obesity through healthy lifestyles. Obesity among children and adolescents in the US has almost tripled since 1980, with nearly one in every three children being overweight or obese, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Children from low-income and low-education households are three-times more likely to suffer from obesity, which is a leading risk factor for diabetes, heart disease and many cancers, according to America’s Health Rankings, an annual comprehensive assessment of the nation’s health on a state-by-state basis.
“The IronKids Chattanooga Fun Run is a great way for area children and families to enhance their health and well-being,” said Rita Johnson Mills, President, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Tennessee. “We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with the local Salvation Army and inspire young people in our community to be active and stay healthy.”
The UnitedHealthcare 2014 IronKids North America Running Series features nine one-mile Fun Runs and a splash-and-dash, as well as music and health expos, and the opportunity to watch Ironman and Ironman 70.3 events with hundreds of spectators.
“We are thrilled to have UnitedHealthcare team up with IronKids to sponsor these youth events across the country as part of our Ironman series,” said Carola Ross, Chief Sales Officer for Ironman North America. “The opportunity these Fun Runs give children in these communities is tremendous, as these races can be the catalyst for a lifetime of exercise and healthy living.”
After being acquired by Ironman brand owner World Triathlon Corp (WTC), from the Sara Lee Corporation, which owned the event series since 1985, IronKids launched in 2009 with nine events in the IronKids National Triathlon Series.
Since the inaugural year, IronKids has seen more than 60,000 participants and has grown to over 40 events worldwide including races in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and North America. The brand represents a multi-dimensional approach to creating positive experiences for athletes, families and communities. It embodies achievement and determination while fostering self-esteem. The IronKids mission is to inspire and motivate through the sport to live an active, positive and healthy lifestyle.
www.ironkids.com
www.uhc.com
www.ironman.com
