Sports
Fighting Childhood Obesity at the Amusement Park
Looking for a way to get your child off the couch? This theme park-based run might be just the ticket.
Childhood obesity is a relatively new phrase. When I was growing up, it was not something we spoke of. Yes, there were kids in my class who were overweight, but they were few and far between. Unfortunately these days, that is no longer the case. Childhood obesity is becoming an epidemic in our country.
Even within College Park -- a fitness-minded community -- whether at a park, the local burger joint or walking the halls of our schools, it is hard to escape the fact that children are not learning to value their health. More and more of the children we encounter each day are already overweight.
Though obesity-related illnesses are fewer in children than in adults, 70 percent of children who are obese will continue that path into adulthood where the condition becomes even more serious, often leading to heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and joint replacements.
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Luckily, we have individuals and organizations in Prince George’s County who are willing to step up to the plate and tackle the issue head on. This fall, the DC Running Club has teamed up with Six Flags of America to organize the first ever Six Flags Family Fun 6k Walk/Run and Kids Fun Run.
The club was originally approached by County Council Candidate Sydney Harrison about organizing a fundraising run to help teachers in Prince George’s County supply their classrooms. Because of tight budgets, teachers often have to delve into their private funds to get the supplies needed for their classrooms.
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From this idea, John Brathwaite and the DC Running Club developed the Six Flags run.
"Disney has been really successful with their races and we have this great theme park right here,” Brathwaite said. “It seemed like a great way to get the kids from all over our county excited about a running event.”
The run/walk will take place on October 1st and will include the price of admission to the park for the day, a t-shirt, medal, live music and a costume contest.
Because of the busy schedules parents and children lead today, fitness is pushed further and further down the list. The DC Running Club is hoping the added incentive of a day at Six Flags will encourage parents and children to take on this challenge and start making fitness a priority.
