UnitedHealthcare is teaming up with IRONKIDS for the second UnitedHealthcare IRONKIDS Seattle Fun Run, aimed at inspiring and motivating young people to lead active, positive and healthy lifestyles. For the first time in Washington, IRONKIDS will offer a 1 mile and ¼-mile track for physically challenged youth athletes.
The one-mile and quarter-mile UnitedHealthcare IRONKIDS Seattle Fun Run will take place Saturday, 22 August, at 13:00 local time at Genesee Park – 31st Avenue S.; Seattle, 98108.
Onsite registration begins at 11:00 and each athlete will receive a race bib, t-shirt, goodie bag and finisher medal. The fun run course for ‘triathletes to be’ will take place along portions of the Iron Girl Seattle course, which begins the next day.
UnitedHealthcare mascot Dr Health E. Hound will lead youth and their parents in warm-up exercises and join the kids at the starting line to officially kick-off the fun run. The cost for registration and to participate is US$15 for kids ages 3 to 15.
As part of its event activation, UnitedHealthcare is providing a US$3,000 donation along with free race entry vouchers to Victory Outreach Children’s Ministry to encourage participation and help promote the club’s after-school sports, fitness and recreation program.
“The IRONKIDS fun run is a great way for our community to come together in an active and healthy way and to teach our youth the importance of a healthy lifestyle,” said Doug Bowes, CEO, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Washington. “UnitedHealthcare is grateful for the opportunity to partner with IRONMAN and the Victory Outreach Children’s Ministry.”
This is the fourth year UnitedHealthcare is supporting IRONKIDS as part of the company’s commitment to help stem the rising tide of childhood obesity through healthy lifestyles. The UnitedHealthcare IRONKIDS 2015 Series features nine one-mile fun runs and a dip-and-dash.
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. Washington ranks 18th in the country with nearly 27% of adults estimated to be obese.
“We are thrilled to have a partner in UnitedHealthcare to sponsor these youth events as part of our IRONMAN series,” said Carola Ross, Chief Sales Officer for IRONMAN. “The opportunity the IRONKIDS fun-runs offer young athletes is tremendous, as these races can be the catalyst for a lifetime of exercise and healthy living.”
IronKids is owned by Ironman brand owner World Triathlon Corp (WTC). After being acquired from the Sara Lee Corporation, which owned the event series since 1985, IronKids relaunched 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 as well as 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.
