RunFit and the John Baker Foundation Team Up

To Help Curb Childhood Obesity

New ‘RunFit’ After School initiative to Involve

Hundreds of Youth throughout Albuquerque

RunFit launched the spring of 2007 as a bold joint initiative aimed at curbing the growing epidemic of childhood obesity by creating a running program for children at after-school (or before school) programs across the district. RunFit began last spring with over 500 students throughout the Albuquerque Public Schools participating.

The John Baker Foundation, is a New Mexico 501(c)3 Non-Profit Corporation. Our foundation has teamed up with the RunFit program in an effort to continue the legacy of our namesake, Coach John Baker.  As an elementary school Physical Education Teacher and a Coach of the Duke City Dashers track club, John encouraged all of his students and athletes to set goals, always do your best and never quit.  It was his belief that, “We Can’t All Come In First Place, but We Can All Be Winners”.

“RunFit is designed to help youth of all sizes, fitness and ability levels utilize the discipline of running to improve health, build character and uplift the spirit” said RunFit founder Stephen Pino. “Afterschool programs such as RunFit play a vital role in the lives our communities by keeping kids’ safe, creating healthy habits and helping working families.”

RunFit is a fun, intensive program which motivates and trains elementary school students to run one mile to 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) without stopping, through active participation on an after school (or before school) running team. Participants learn to set and achieve challenging personal goals and are awarded with incentives for attendance and improvement and culminating in local running events: i.e. RunFit Run 5K, 2-Mile and Kids K – May 18, 2008. RunFit, while intended to be physically challenging, is designed for children of all fitness and athletic levels. It uses the structure and importance of being on a team with support and encouragement to help kids reach their full human potential, not just their athletic potential.

“Running and walking are two of the very best forms of aerobic exercise – simple, inexpensive, and powerfully effective,” said Running USA Executive Director Basil Honikman. “We’re delighted to be able to connect Running USA events and members to afterschool programs around the nation to help every young American embrace running and fitness as a lifetime habit.”

While RunFit is designed for elementary aged children, parents are encouraged to participate in the weekly training.

The program addresses a growing epidemic of youth obesity, due in great measure to sedentary lifestyles and poor nutrition. According to one study, less than ten percent of elementary, junior, middle and high schools provide daily physical education for students, and less than half of all schools offer intramural activities or physical activity clubs for students. Just over 15 percent of U.S. children between the ages of six and 10 are overweight, and another 15 percent are at risk of becoming so. The health toll on these children over the course of their lifetimes could be profound. Approximately 300,000 deaths a year are attributed to unhealthy dietary habits and sedentary behavior. Physical inactivity – a habit often established during youth – is associated with increases in high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and childhood diabetes.  Running helps lower blood pressure, maximize lung potential, strengthens the heart and cardiovascular capacity, and burns an average of 100 calories per mile.

RunFit is gearing up for the spring of 2008 in schools throughout Albuquerque and Rio Rancho. Your donation to the John Baker Foundation goes 100% towards the RunFit program and is tax deductable.  For additional information about the John Baker Foundation contact Jill McMullan at 259-0152.  Thank you for your time and consideration.

Schools that are interested in participating may contact Stephen Pino at: 856-9377 or email: stephenpino@hotmail.com

Sincerely,

Steve Pino

Program Director – RunFit

Jill Baker McMullan

President/CEO

The John Baker Foundation