Kids take on healthy initiative to curb obesity while helping other kids

Memphis, Tenn. – Shelby County Schools (SCS) is tackling a heavy situation – childhood obesity. SCS has partnered with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® to encourage its students to get active and participate in the St. Jude Kids Marathon on Dec. 7.

“The partnership between Shelby County Schools and the St. Jude Kids Marathon presents an important connection to the work of the SCS Department of Coordinated School Health. This partnership highlights the benefits of a commitment by students to physical activity and health promotion, which can lead to long term positive health behaviors and life balance,” said Shunji Brown-Woods, director of SCS Coordinated School Health.

Now through  race day, the St. Jude Kids Marathon challenges kids up to age 11 to log all but one mile of a full – 26.2 miles – or half marathon – 13.1 miles –  of walking, jogging or running. An official mileage tracker is provided and parents and teachers can help students keep track of their progress.

“Through this program, Shelby County Schools is providing a great way to motivate students to get fit while also helping other kids who are battling cancer and other deadly diseases,” said Richard Shadyac Jr., CEO ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “As students train for the St. Jude Kids Marathon, they will realize that small steps add up to big change for themselves and children in communities everywhere who benefit from the work of St. Jude.”

How it works

Step 1 - Parents register all participating family members.

Step 2 - Download the Training Plans (eight- and 12-week options) and official mileage tracker.

Step 3 - Kids follow their training plan and run or walk 12.1 or 25.2 miles before race day. They can track their progress with the mileage tracker, which their parents will sign.

Step 4 - A parent submits the completed official mileage tracker at the pre-race Expo to receive child's certificate of completion.

Step 5 - Kids complete the final mile with their families at the St. Jude Kids Marathon and Family Fun Run.

To learn more, visit stjudemarathon.org/races.

About the St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend

Since 2002, the event has been produced in partnership with the Memphis Runners Track Club and presenting sponsor Juice Plus and now features a marathon, half marathon, marathon relay, the Memphis Grizzlies House 5K, kids marathon and family fun run. Funds are raised from the event primarily through St. Jude Heroes, a special group of race participants who raise funds by obtaining pledges from friends and family. More than $25.7 million has been raised through the St. Jude Heroes program for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. For more information, visit stjudemarathon.org. 

About St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other deadly diseases. St. Jude has the world’s best survival rates for the most aggressive childhood cancers, and treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to 80 percent since we opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude is working to drive the overall survival rate for childhood cancer to 90 percent in the next decade. St. Jude freely shares the breakthroughs we make, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing and food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Join the St. Jude mission by visiting stjude.org or following St. Jude on facebook.com/stjudeand twitter.com/stjude.

About  Juice Plus+®

Juice Plus+®, the presenting sponsor for the St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend, is an easy and inexpensive way to add nutrition from a wide variety of different fruits, vegetables and grains to your diet, everyday. It provides whole food based nutrition from 17 different fruits, vegetables and grains in convenient capsule or soft chewable form.