Nearly 350 kids participated in the UnitedHealthcare IRONKIDS Arizona Fun Run at Tempe Beach Park on 18 November, in conjunction with the IRONMAN Arizona race weekend. UnitedHealthcare mascot Dr Health E Hound helped State Representative Reginald Bolding, Tempe Council members Kolby Granville and David Schapira, and Joseph Gaudio, CEO, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Arizona kick off the fun run.
Athletes aged 3 to 13 ran portions of the IRONMAN Arizona run course. Each athlete received a race bib, t-shirt, gift bag and finisher medal. UnitedHealthcare provided 100 complimentary registrations to Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale to encourage participation.
This is the sixth year UnitedHealthcare is supporting IRONKIDS in the United States as part of the company’s commitment to help stem the rising tide of childhood obesity through encouraging healthy lifestyles. UnitedHealthcare is sponsoring seven IRONKIDS one-mile fun runs in 2017.
IRONKIDS is owned by IRONMAN. 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.
