Marine Corps Marathon Recognizes Five Virginia Schools with Healthy School Award

Sodexo partners with MCM to honor participating schools in Healthy Kids Fun Run; $1000 for PE departments

QUANTICO, Va. - (Nov. 9, 2011) - Inclement weather for the Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) Healthy Kids Fun Run did not dampen the commitment area elementary schools made to promoting physical fitness within their student populations. Held on Saturday, Oct. 29 in Arlington, VA, the Healthy Kids Fun Run registered 3,000 runners ages 5 to 12, nearly two-thirds entered through the coordinated effort of physical education teachers and PTA groups. The elementary schools with the most students registered will receive the Healthy School Award and $1000 toward their PE departments from MCM partner Sodexo.

"Such a huge turnout of kids in wet and cold weather demonstrates how powerful a motivator the Healthy Kids Fun Run is to get children excited about running," says MCM Director Rick Nealis. "This award recognizes the common goal between families, schools and the MCM to keep kids active."


The schools to receive this honor are Lynbrook Elementary of Springfield, VA (300 students); and Alexandria, VA schools George Mason Elementary (243 students); James K. Polk Elementary (240 students); Mount Vernon Community School (115 students) and William Ramsay Elementary (90 students).

"Sodexo knows the value of a program like the Healthy School Award because it gets kids moving and contributes to physical education programs that play an important role in development of healthy habits," says David Bennett, Senior Vice President of Operations for Defense East, Sodexo Government. "This program is in line with Sodexo's longstanding commitment to the Marine Corps Marathon and the company's commitment to ensuring the health of America's youth."

Each award-winning school will receive an assembly for the entire student body with exciting visits from MCM mascot Miles the bulldog and U.S. Marines from Marine Corps Base Quantico. In addition to the Healthy School Award presentation, nutritious snacks from Sodexo will be given to each student and educational activities will be hosted by the National Children's Museum.

The Healthy Kids Fun Run is organized by the Marine Corps Marathon. The 2012 Healthy Kids Fun Run will be held on Oct. 27 in Arlington, VA. Registration opens online on April 4 at www.marinemarathon.com for kids ages 5 to 12. The 2011 Healthy Kids Fun Run was sponsored by The Washington Post, FAMILY Magazine, Sodexo, Navy Federal Credit Union, National Children's Museum and the Silver Diner.

this article Courtesy of Running USA wire