Children's marathon teaches about diabetes, obesity

SAN BENITO — A cool breeze greeted about 2,500 schoolchildren and their families who came out for the annual Texas Rio Grande Valley Marathon Kids “kickoff” at Bobby Morrow Stadium Saturday morning in San Benito.

The nonprofit program aims to educate children from kindergarten through fifth-grade about childhood obesity and Type 2 diabetes, while promoting a healthier lifestyle and nutritious diet.

The fitness aspect of the program requires students to clock a total of 26.2 miles of either running or walking in increments of a quarter-mile at a time during a six-month period.

Estrella Medina of Los Fresnos said she decided to enroll her children in the program because it teaches valuable lessons on health and nutrition, and it’s free.

“It’s important to get them aware of the things they eat and the activities they do at an early age,” Medina said.

Miranda Reynolds, national program director for Marathon Kids, said the six-month program has proven to be a great success for parents and children alike.

“It’s not just the kids who come out and run, walk or jog — the parents come as well and many of (the parents) have said they’ve adopted a healthier lifestyle for their family,” Reynolds said.

Reynolds said Marathon Kids has been serving the Rio Grande Valley for six years, and has about 8,000 children participating.

Upon completion of the marathon, children are given a medal of completion and T-shirts to reward their efforts.