5K Off Road Walk/Run at Flowerfield on Sunday to Benefit ‘Fit Kids for Life’ Program –
STONY BROOK, N.Y., August 16, 2011– On Sunday, August 21 at 5 pm (rain or shine) the Fit Kids for Life Program at Stony Brook Long Island Children’s Hospital is holding its first annual 5K Off Road Walk/Run at the beautiful and secluded Flowerfield estate in St. James. The walk/run will take place along a scenic, relatively flat course on trails in the Flowerfield grounds that are used by cross-country competitors year-round. Registration will be held the day of the event between 3 and 4:30 pm. The first 150 runners/walkers will receive a free commemorative t-shirt.
Fit Kids for Life is a 10-week program that helps kids (and their parents) introduce healthy nutrition, lifestyle, and exercise habits into their lives program. Created by Peter J. Morelli, M.D., an Associate Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Pediatric Cardiology in the School of Medicine and Director of NonInvasive Pediatric Cardiology at Stony Brook Children’s, Fit Kids serves children age 8 to 17 with cardiovascular risk factors for heart disease including obesity, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure.
According to Dr. Morelli, Fit Kids for Life was designed as a comprehensive lifestyle modification approach that provides a supervised curriculum emphasizing proper, healthy nutritional, exercise and behavioral instruction. Children and their parents meet twice weekly for approximately two hours each session. With the assistance of certified nutritionists, a board-certified pediatric cardiologist/certified personal trainer, physical therapy instructors, and approximately eight to ten personal trainers, children are taken through a fun and vigorous 10-week curriculum fostering a healthy lifestyle.
Awards at the 5K Run/Walk will be given out to the top three overall male and female runners and to the top three male and female runners, ages 14 and under, ages 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75 and over. A post-race party will include music and a DJ, as well as free refreshments and snacks.
Advance or same day registration is $15. For more information, see Stony Brook’s Fit Kids for Life Program, or call (631) 444-2725.
