Third UnitedHealthcare IRONKIDS Henderson Fun Run Motivates Local Youth to Lead Active, Healthy Lifestyles
October 03 2015 - 4:16PM
Business Wire
• IRONKIDS course for physically challenged
children offered for the first time in Nevada
Nearly 130 young athletes participated in the third
UnitedHealthcare IRONKIDS® Henderson Fun Run today at the Henderson
Pavilion. UnitedHealthcare mascot Dr. Health E. Hound kicked off
the fun run, joined by Nevada Senate Majority Leader Michael
Roberson, and Alice Ferreira, vice president of UnitedHealthcare
Community & State.
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Local youth take off at the third
UnitedHealthcare IRONKIDS Henderson Fun Run at the Henderson
Pavilion. UnitedHealthcare mascot Dr. Health E. Hound kicked off
the fun run. For the first time in Nevada, IRONKIDS offered a
one-mile track for physically challenged youth athletes (Photo: Sam
Morris).
Athletes, ages 3-15, had the opportunity to run along portions
of the IRONMAN® 70.3® Silverman triathlon course, which begins
tomorrow. For the first time in Nevada, IRONKIDS offered a 1-mile
track for physically challenged youth.
UnitedHealthcare provided free admissions to the Boys &
Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada to encourage participation.
Yesterday, IRONMAN pro-athlete Drew Scott, winner of the 2014
IRONMAN 70.3 Silverman, led a training at the Reynolds Clubhouse in
preparation for Saturday’s fun run.
“The IRONKIDS fun runs give our community the opportunity to
have fun together, and begin their day being active and healthy.
Walking and running are exercises everyone can do to maintain a
healthful lifestyle,” said Don Giancursio, CEO, UnitedHealthcare of
Nevada. “UnitedHealthcare is grateful for the opportunity to
partner with IRONMAN to help children in our community live
healthier lives.”
This is the fourth year UnitedHealthcare is supporting IRONKIDS
as part of the company’s commitment to help stem the rising tide of
childhood obesity through healthy lifestyles. The UnitedHealthcare
IRONKIDS 2015 Series features nine one-mile fun runs and a
dip-and-dash.
Obesity among children and adolescents has almost tripled since
1980, with nearly one in every three children being overweight or
obese, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC).
“Helping our youth make healthy decisions begins with adults,
who lead by example,” said Sen. Roberson. “Thank you to our
partners at UnitedHealthcare and IRONKIDS for encouraging us to
begin our morning exercising together as a community.”
Children from low-income and low-education households are
three-times more likely to suffer from obesity, which is a leading
risk factor for diabetes, heart disease and many cancers, according
to America’s Health Rankings®, an annual comprehensive assessment
of the nation’s health on a state-by-state basis. Nevada ranks 11th
in the country with 26 percent of adults and 11 percent of youth
estimated to be obese.
“We are thrilled to have a partner in UnitedHealthcare to
sponsor these youth events as part of our IRONMAN series,” said
Carola Ross, chief sales officer for IRONMAN. “The opportunity the
IRONKIDS fun runs offer young athletes is tremendous, as these
races can be the catalyst for a lifetime of exercise and healthy
living.”
About IRONKIDS®
After being acquired from the Sara Lee Corporation, which owned
the event series since 1985, IRONKIDS® launched in 2009 with nine
events in the IRONKIDS® National Triathlon Series. Since the
inaugural year, IRONKIDS® has seen more than 60,000 participants
and has grown to more than 60 events worldwide including races in
Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and North America. The brand
represents a multi-dimensional approach to creating positive
experiences for athletes, families and communities, as well as
embodies achievement and determination while fostering self-esteem.
The IRONKIDS® mission is to inspire and motivate through the sport
to live an active, positive and healthy lifestyle. For more
information, visit www.ironkids.com.
About UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people
nationwide live healthier lives by simplifying the health care
experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and
sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. The company
offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for
individuals, employers, military service members, retirees and
their families, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and
contracts directly with more than 850,000 physicians and care
professionals, and 6,000 hospitals and other care facilities
nationwide. UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of
UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified Fortune 50 health and
well-being company. For more information, visit UnitedHealthcare at
www.uhc.com or follow @myUHC on Twitter.
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UnitedHealthcareMolly McMillen, 952-931-6029orIRONKIDSMandy
Irizarry, 407-341-4362