Dodge Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego Adds Kids Race

(3BL Media / theCSRfeed) May 18, 2011 - It’s the kids’ turn to relish in the excitement and accomplishment of the finish line. In its 14^th year, the Dodge Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego Marathon & ½ Marathon to Benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society will introduce a kids’ race, known as ING KiDS ROCK San Diego.

For thousands of  kids on Saturday, June 4th, their dash across the finish line will be both a proud moment and an important lesson: that running can actually be fun. Nearly 2,000 local school children in grades K-7 will take part in ING KiDS ROCK San Diego, a one-mile, non-timed, non-competitive, fun run to combat childhood obesity. The event begins at 8:00am at SeaWorld.   As participants in the ING KiDS ROCK program, young athletes become marathon finishers by completing 25.2 miles of a 26.2 mile marathon at their own pace with guidance from parents or teachers, using the Official ING Run For Something Better Training Guide. The training program also includes tips to help kids start and maintain an overall healthy and active lifestyle.   Children can run their miles anywhere or whenever they want, such as at home, during recess at school, or soccer practice. They keep track of their mileage based on the honor system with supervision from a parent, teacher or facilitator. The final mile will be completed on race day and finishers will receive a medal and goodies to commemorate the accomplishment.   Dr. Andy Baldwin, a U.S. Navy physician widely known for his appearance on “The Bachelor,” now works to create awareness about the importance of fitness and the fight against childhood obesity as the ING KiDS ROCK and ING Run For Something Better Ambassador. He’ll be on hand to cheer on the kids as they cross the finish line, along with Olympian Rod Dixon and Jim Ryun, Olympic Medalist, World Record Holder and former Congressman.   “Physical fitness sets kids up for success in life on many levels, and I want every child to have that.  Getting kids active is all about making it fun,” said Baldwin. “Bringing kids’ fitness to a nationwide level is crucial to creating awareness and making an impact on childhood obesity. ING KiDS ROCK is an incredible partnership of dedicated organizations and one I’m thrilled to represent.”   ING KiDS ROCK is supported by ING Run For Something Better®, ING’s charity that champions running and fitness programs in schools across the country.   “As the official charity of ING KiDS ROCK, the ING Run For Something Better program is helping to get kids on the road to adopting healthier lifestyles as a way to combat childhood obesity,” said Rhonda Mims, president of the ING Foundation and senior vice president, ING’s Office of Corporate Responsibility and Multicultural Affairs. “ING KiDS ROCK is a fun way for kids to achieve a sense of accomplishment for their discipline leading up the event, and we hope they continue running for years to come.”   To register or for more information, please visit INGKiDSROCK.com. ING KiDS ROCK San Diego is a part of the Dodge Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego Marathon & ½ Marathon To Benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, which takes place Sunday, June 5^th.   ING KiDS ROCK aligns with First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move!” initiative, and the program is teaming up with The President’s Challenge to reach as many kids as possible across the nation. The President’s Challenge promotes physical activity that is fun and that you can do on your own, with friends or with family members. Participants in ING KiDS ROCK can earn awards for staying active and track progress along with other kids across the country.   About ING ING is a global financial institution of Dutch origin offering banking, investments, life insurance and retirement services to over 85 million private, corporate and institutional clients in more than 40 countries. With a diverse workforce of about 107,000 people, ING is dedicated to setting the standard in helping our clients manage their financial future.

In the U.S., the ING (NYSE: ING) family of companies offers a comprehensive array of financial services to retail and institutional clients, which includes life insurance, retirement plans, mutual funds, managed accounts, alternative investments, institutional investment management, annuities, employee benefits and financial planning. ING holds top-tier rankings in key U.S. markets and serves nearly 15 million customers across the nation.

ING’s diversity management philosophy and commitment to workforce diversity, diversity marketing, corporate citizenship and supplier diversity fosters an inclusive environment for employees that supports a distinctive product and service experience for the financial services consumer.

For more information, visit ing.us.

    About ING Run For Something Better ING Run For Something Better® helps fund school-based running programs in an effort to combat childhood obesity before it ever begins. Linked to ING’s commitment to education, the program helps introduce kids to the benefits of sport, a habit of physical fitness and a healthy lifestyle. Nationally, ING has committed over $2.5 million to fund grants and school-based running programs through ING Run For Something Better. Since 2006, $1 million has also been raised by individual donors through a special charitable fund that encourages others to support the cause through their own contributions. When someone donates $10 or more to ING Run For Something Better, ING will recognize their contribution by giving them a special pair of orange shoelaces to wear showing that they are “tied” to supporting kids’ fitness. One hundred percent of the net proceeds go to the ING Run For Something Better fitness programs. For more information about the orange laces, go to www.orangelaces.com.   About ING KiDS ROCKSan Diego ING KiDS ROCK San Diego is a cumulative marathon program capped by a non-competitive, non-timed one-mile fun run for kids grades K-7. As participants in the ING KiDS ROCK San Diego program, young athletes become marathon finishers by completing 25.2 miles of a marathon at their own pace with guidance from parents or teachers. T he event plans to motivate children to live a healthy lifestyle. They can learn early on that running can be fun and goals can be attainable. On Saturday, June 4th, all participants will meet to run one mile together. Each participant will run or walk one mile, cross the finish line and receive a finisher’s medal and goodies to commemorate the accomplishment. More information is available at: INGKiDSROCK.com.   About the ING Foundation The ING Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life in communities where ING operates and its employees and customers live. Through charitable giving and employee volunteerism, the foundation focuses on programs in the areas of financial literacy, children’s education, diversity and environmental sustainability. 

For more information, visit www.ing-usafoundation.com, connect with us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/act2impact or follow us on Twitter @INGact2impact.

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