Anthem Blue Cross/ Blue Shield gives $45,000 to running program

Abthem check for $45,000 for We Run This City youth marathon program

L-R, Tara Taylor, Director, We Run This City Youth Marathon Program, Katie Heenan, Anthem Blue Cross/ Blue Shield Foundation, Glenn Haley, CEO of the Greater Cleveland Y, and Susan Smith, Sales Account Executive, Anthem Blue Cross/ Blue Shield.

(CLEVELAND, OH - April 12, 2011) A $45,000 gift from the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation will finance five free fitness clinics for students in the We Run This City Youth Marathon Program.

The clinics will run from March 4 through April 29 and introduce runners to options such as healthy eating tips to compliment their preparation for the May 15, 2011 Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon. Students will also be provided with a healthy lunch.

A conditioning clinic held on Friday, April 15, will host leaders from each of the partnering organizations who will participate alongside students in fitness sessions that include yoga, cycling, Bootcamp, and a cardiovascular equipment round-up. There will also be a nutrition presentation.

The following community leaders will participate:

Glenn Haley, CEO, Y of Greater Cleveland YMCA
Jack Staph, Executive Director, Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon
Scott Misischia, Regional Director of Group Sales, Northeast Ohio, Anthem Blue cross and Blue Shield
Karen Butler, Director, Cleveland Department of Public Health
Elaine Borawski, Director, CWRU, Prevention Research Center for Healthy Neighborhoods

In addition, a representative from NIKE sports will attend with a special surprise for the students.

The We Run This City Youth Marathon Program is a partnership between the Y of Greater Cleveland, the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon, the Cleveland Department of Public Health, and Case Western Reserve University’s Prevention Research Center for Healthy Neighborhoods. Its mission is to encourage healthy habits and exercise in Cleveland’s young people.

Student runners in grades 6 through 12 from the Cleveland Metropolitan School District receive fitness assessments and attend trainings to prepare to run in the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon along side serious runners, including those of professional and world class stature.

In preparation for this year’s race, 784 students from 35 schools have undergone pre-race evaluations in January and February at the Downtown YMCA.

Evaluations consisted of fitness (strength and endurance) and physical measures (BMI and body composition). In addition, students complete a detailed, audio-supported PDA survey assessing attitudes, intentions and behaviors (i.e., recreational choices, intentions to be active, grades and attendance). The assessments are repeated post-race.

While emphasizing fitness, the program provides participants with the opportunity to set and achieve goals and increase their self-confidence as well as their strength and endurance.

We Run This City 2010 Results
In 2010, 650 students registered for WRTC from 27 schools, with 403 of those students crossing the finish line and receiving one of the best finisher’s medals around.

Of the 403 students crossing the finish line, seven ran the half marathon, 80 ran the 10k, and 316 ran the last 1.2 miles of the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon.

The results in 2010 are consistent with findings from the prior two year’s data.

Using National Heart Lung Blood Institute criteria, the number of pre-hypertensive and hypertensive students declined from 18% to less than 9% in 14 weeks. There was a significant decrease in BMI in the students classified as overweight or obese at the pre-conditioning assessments.

In addition to the improvement in physical measures, after completing the program student participants reported a significant increase in support for healthy behaviors from their parents as well as improved body self-image attitudes.

Funders
The We Run This City program is generously supported by the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon, the Mt. Sinai Foundation, Sisters of Charity Foundation, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation, The St. Luke’s Foundation, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention REACH (Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health) program, the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Ohio.

Contacts
Tara Taylor, Program Director
We Run This City Youth Marathon Program
ttaylor@clevleandymca.org (216) 263-6298

Rick Haase, Vice President of Marketing
Y of Greater of Cleveland
rhaase@clevelandymca.org (216)263-6836