The Kids Fit Challenge.
Every year, thousands of people meet at the Auto Club Speedway where the fastest cars in NASCAR are tucked away to make room for walkers, bicyclists, and runners who gather each year for the Kids Fitness Challenge 5K Run/Walk/Ride. Once again our own Healthy Fontana partnered with the County of San Bernardino and the Kids Fitness Challenge Foundation to provide resources, activities, and healthy fun for participants and their families.
The Kids Fitness Challenge Foundation helps to encourage and support the development of healthier and active living lifestyles. This year's event included a fundraising opportunity for schools and youth oriented non-profit groups with at least 65 registrants. Some received a donation for their school or program.
Schools and groups gathered for last years’ event to include students in Fontana’s After School Program.
Over the years, the impact of the Kids Fitness Challenge has been great. Some of the enhancements winning schools have made with their Challenge monies have been the funding of physical education programs, the building of an obstacle course on the school campus, and starting an on-site vegetable garden for a local neighborhood.
Youth who participated needed to take the Fitness Challenge Pledge. This includes participating in physical activities, eating smaller portions of food, watching TV or playing video games less often, and encouraging others to join in the Challenge. To read the entire pledge or about success stories over the years, please visit Kids Fitness Challenge.
Games and fun activities at the Healthy Fontana booth.
At the Get Healthy California Expo, events included wall climbing, nutrition network, a farmer’s market, sports activities, AJ’s House for Parents and Preschool Students, free health screenings, and more. The Healthy Fontana booth offered an interactive physical challenge and informative nutritional materials.
Healthy Fontana is a leader in the Healthy Cities network. The program which won the Helen Putnam Award for Health and Fitness in 2008 has continued to wow the crowds with the regularly scheduled boot camps, cooking shows, and Healthy Walking Clubs. A recent grant from Kaiser Permanente for $5,000 has allowed the group to create the new Jr. Chef Cooking Classes for ages 8 to 14. More information about this program will be available at the Kids Fitness Challenge.
To find out more about the annual Challenge and how you can prepare for the event next year, please call the Healthy Fontana hotline at (909) 350-6542 or visit online at www.healthyfontana.org.
