BIG NEWS! The RMEC is about to take on a new challenge, and your help is needed. Several club members have expressed interest in beginning a program that focuses on improving the health and fitness of children in our area. We applied for a grant through the Road Runner Club of America, but lost out to other running clubs. We were however able to secure a $500 grant from RBC Bank to get us started. As a result, we are excited to announce we are launching the Rocky Mount Endurance Kids program in 2009!
The goal of this program is to take elementary school age children and put them through an 8-10 week program that will:
- educated them on the importance of a healthy lifestyle
- show them proper ways to exercise
- inform them about a healthy diet
- motivate them to stay active
- train them for a "fun run" event
To be honest, we can not announce much more at this time, because the planning has just begun. So why am I announcing something that is not ready to begin? Simple. . . we need you.
Tracy Proctor is heading up this initiative, and it can not be done alone. We need to have RMEC members commit time, enthusiasm, and energy for this program to be a success. Most likely we will have 2-3 times per week when we meet with RMEK participants to instruct and exercise. This is not a one person job. You do not need to be an expert to help. Tracy has a great guide that we will model our program after. You simply need to provide the effort.
Originally we were planning to create our own mini-race for kids only in the spring. This plan changed however once we learned about the new Fun Run for Charities in Rocky Mount on May 30th. Nothing is set in stone, but most likely we will "train" a group of kids for this race. All participants in the RMEK program will get a shirt from us to wear in the race, and some handouts about the topics we will cover.
Our hope is to make this free to kids who wish to participate, however we will most likely need a few sponsors to help pull this off. If you or your company are interested in supporting this great opportunity, please let us know ASAP.
To have a successful program, we need to have participants enrolled by the last week of March at the latest. This means we need to get a lot accomplished over the next 4-6 weeks. This is a BIG DEAL for the RMEC. This gives us a chance to be something more than just a running club. Nash and Edgecombe counties are the two most obese counties in the state of North Carolina. We can't fix that over night, but we can start with the youth in our community and change people's lives!
Tracey,
ReplyDeleteThanks for organizing this for kids in our community. I'll be glad to help.
Tracy,
ReplyDeleteThanks for organizing this for RMEC and kids in our area. I'll be glad to help.
I would like to set up a meeting with those interested in helping next week. I am available monday and tuesday 5:30ish, wednesday or friday 12:30ish. Please indicate what works or if you can not attend but are interested, please contact me.
ReplyDeleteM or T 5:30 is best for me.
ReplyDeleteTracey, I will be glad to help with this also. Anyday is good for me except Tues. of next week. My e-mail is robinc.johnson@rbc.com.
ReplyDeleteRobin J.
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ReplyDeleteI would like to help too.
ReplyDeleteSign me up--let me know when the meeting is and I will try to make it. Mon 5:30 is best for me. But I can always get up with you at another time, Tracy.
ReplyDeleteCount me in. Tuesday 5:30ish would work best
ReplyDeleteIm interested and would like to come to the meeting, Im at the Y m-W-F from 330 until 530 so any of those days might work for me, or just let me know when !!!! :0
ReplyDeleteI know this is short notice but would like to plan a meeting monday at 6:00. Right now I am planning at my house unless I can work something with the Y. Please email or call if you need directions.
ReplyDeleteI will be happy to help, but cannot make the meeting on Monday. Misty
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