Get Out! Get Going!San Antonio Sports Foundation Expands Diamond Shamrock Go!Kids Challenge™ to 150,000 Children
San Antonio – More than 150,000 children in the San Antonio area will be inspired to Get Out! and Get Going! during the second annual Diamond Shamrock Go!Kids Challenge fueled by Valero which launches in all area school districts on Wednesday, September 29, 2004. A program of the nonprofit San Antonio Sports Foundation, the Diamond Shamrock Go!Kids Challenge motivates children in grades K-5 to walk one-half mile a day and record their mileage in a special journal, eventually reaching a marathon distance of 26.2 miles in ten weeks. As children achieve set milestones, they may redeem incentive rewards at supporting sponsors’ businesses.
The 2004 Diamond Shamrock Go!Kids Challenge kicks off on Wednesday, September 29 at 10 a.m. simultaneously in all participating schools with children walking their first one-half mile on the school campuses. A kick-off press conference will be held at that time at Stonewall-Flanders Elementary, 804 Stonewall, in the Harlandale Independent School District. Local Olympians and superintendents from participating schools will be on hand to walk with the students. On Sunday, December 5, the Diamond Shamrock Go!Kids Challenge culminates at the Alamodome for the Subway Victory Lap Celebration where the participants will receive medals and t-shirts for achieving their goals.
“The Diamond Shamrock Go!Kids Challenge was developed to provide children with an introduction to the importance of routine exercise and proper nutrition for the development of a healthy lifestyle. It doesn’t ask much of children – just one-half mile a day – but the results could be life changing,” said Dr. Gabriel Magraner, honorary chairman of the 2004 Diamond Shamrock Go!Kids Challenge and a local gastroenterologist. “I applaud the Sports Foundation for taking action to combat the alarming rise of childhood obesity in San Antonio.”
“At Valero, we care about the health and well-being of children in all of our communities, so we are proud to sponsor this program again. It has the potential to change the lives of thousands of children in the San Antonio area,” said Gary Arthur, senior vice president of retail and specialty products marketing for Valero Energy Corporation, which owns the Diamond Shamrock retail network. “The Diamond Shamrock Go!Kids Challenge, not only educates children on the importance of exercising, it’s also a fun way for kids to start a healthy life-long habit.”
Dr. Susan Blackwood, executive director of the San Antonio Sports Foundation, added, “The San Antonio Sports Foundation feels a sense of responsibility to combat childhood obesity and help the children of our community be healthy and active. We were pleased that the 2003 Diamond Shamrock Go!Kids Challenge was so warmly embraced by the participating school districts and sponsors in its first year. In 2004, the Diamond Shamrock Go!Kids Challenge has grown from just six school districts to include all of San Antonio's school districts along with the Boerne and New Braunfels Independent School districts.”
The Diamond Shamrock Go!Kids Challenge is supported through the generous contributions of title sponsor Diamond Shamrock and presenting sponsor Valero Energy Corporation. Other sponsors include Subway, Coca-Cola, Mission Pharmacal, Whataburger, Creative Link, SBC, Zachary Group, Inc., Frost Bank, Methodist Health Care, Clear Channel Radio, Clear Channel Outdoor, News 4 WOAI, Humana, PacifiCare, Security Service Federal Credit Union, Sterling Bank, Racquetball & Fitness Clubs, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas, Inc. and DPT Laboratories Ltd.
“We want children to embrace a healthy lifestyle, and to do that they need the support of family, teachers, friends and the whole community. I believe that in its second year the 2004 Diamond Shamrock Go!Kids Challenge™ will help more children than we can even imagine. These children will be able to develop into healthy individuals," said Dr. Magraner.
For information, call the San Antonio Sports Foundation at 210-820-2101 or visit the Sports Foundation's website at www.sanantoniosports.org/gokids. Media may contact Mary Ullmann Japhet at 210-820-2123 or mjaphet@sanantoniosports.org
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