Keeping Kids Healthy – One Step at a Time
Author: Shannon Miller
An estimated one third of all children in the United States are overweight.
This puts children at risk for heart disease, asthma, hypertension, and Type II diabetes.
The good news is that, through education and awareness, we can strive to make a positive impact on children’s health; this is the goal of the Shannon Miller Foundation. The Shannon Miller Foundation is a non-profit organization that offers children the opportunity to be physically active and gain greater nutritional knowledge.
The Shannon Miller Foundation initiated a running club program that is used on public and private schools and other organizations that serve children. Children spend 30 minutes or more at least once or twice a week running, skipping, and walking. Children reap many rewards for participating – praise, self-confidence, and an increased level of fitness. During the pilot program served 500 children who ran over 10, 000 miles in a 10 week period. This past spring the Foundation served 3,000 children with a waiting list of thousands more! The results were leaner bodies, fresher minds, calmer spirits, and a love of being physically active.
Imagine the exponential effect that we, as parents, could have – if we are consistently encouraging our children to be active and to lead a healthy lifestyle; after all, nobody can have more of an effect on a child than a parent.
Let’s keep our children healthy and happy – one step at a time!
- If you are interested in getting a running club started at your child’s school, please contact Jackie Culver [email protected].
- For more information on the Shannon Miller Foundation please visit https://www.shannonmiller.com/about/the-shannon-miller-foundation.