Filed Under: [ Community ] [ Hispanic News ] [ Latinas ] [ Press Releases ] [ Florida ] [ Miami ]
Tags: children, obesity, parents, Puerto Rican, student, teacher
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Gigi Fernandez will trade in her tennis racket for a pair of orange shoelaces on Sunday, January 27 as she partners with global financial services leader ING and the company’s Run for Something Better program during the 2008 ING Miami Marathon and Half Marathon.
Fernandez, who is Puerto Rico’s first female professional athlete, is no stranger to running and physical fitness. During her celebrated career, the tennis legend won two Olympic Gold Medals and seventeen women’s Grand Slam doubles titles. By joining forces with ING in Miami, she hopes to encourage more Miami area youth to fight childhood obesity and get active as part of the national ING Run for Something Better program.
“Although I’ve retired from professional tennis, I’m a firm believer in leading a healthy lifestyle and staying in shape,” said Fernandez. “By being part of the ING Run for Something Better program in Miami, I hope to inspire thousands of children in South Florida to embrace physical activity and work towards setting their own personal fitness goals.”
The ING Run for Something Better program advocates a healthy and active lifestyle in the fight against childhood obesity. Since 2003, the youth running program has successfully engaged thousands of children, parents and teachers in cities across the country where ING sponsors long-distance running events. In Miami, the successful program is organized by ING’s race partner, PR Racing and the Fit Miami Foundation.
“We’re delighted that Gigi has chosen to support the ING Run for Something Better program during this year’s marathon. Her involvement in Miami will help spread our positive message about youth running and fitness,” said Toby Hoden, chief marketing officer for ING. “This partnership represents another step in ING’s ongoing commitment to ensure our children are getting a start towards leading a healthy life.”
In the U.S., childhood obesity has become a serious health epidemic. The problem is even greater within the Hispanic community - where children are twice as likely to be overweight. Educating kids about the importance of living an active life is the cornerstone of the ING Run for Something Better program.
In Miami, Fernandez will be wearing a pair of ING’s signature orange shoelaces, which are given to kids’ fitness supporters who make a charitable contribution to the ING Run for Something Better program. ING’s orange laces are available at www.orangelaces.com/miami.
On marathon race day, she will also join more than 2,500 Miami-Dade County middle school students expected to participate in the ING Run for Something Better “Final Mile” run. This event takes place at 11:00 a.m. on the official marathon race course in Downtown Miami.
Kids participating in ING Run for Something Better-funded programs have run enough miles to reach the moon — about 238,000 miles. ING has donated more than $1,000,000 to youth running initiatives across the country and is committed to donating a total of $2,000,000 through 2010. Nearly $400,000 in Run for Something Better funds have gone to Miami schools since the program was introduced there in 2006.
About Gigi Fernandez
The former tennis professional won seventeen Grand Slam doubles titles and two Olympic Gold Medals. She reached the singles semi-finals of the 1994 Wimbledon Championships, and the singles quarter-finals twice at the U.S. Open. Fernandez is one of the most successful Puerto Rican born female athletes in history. She was voted Puerto Rican Female Athlete of the Century. Fernandez graduated cum laude from the University of South Florida and us currently pursing an MBA from Rollins Crummer School of Business.”
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