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J&A Racing Announces Youth Fitness Initiative Recipient
By Bob Schniedwind
Virginia Beach, VA
December 28, 2011
For the Washington Running Report
J&A Racing is pleased to announce that Parkway Elementary School has been selected as the inaugural recipient of the J&A Racing Youth Fitness Initiative, an athletic program for elementary students to promote youth fitness and to combat childhood obesity. J&A Racing is the parent organization for the Shamrock Operation Smile Final Mile, one of five races which comprise the Yuengling Shamrock Marathon Weekend held each year in March at the Virginia Beach, Virginia oceanfront. Students taking part in the Final Mile program run or walk 25.2 miles at school and at home in the weeks leading up to the event, and then run their “final mile” on race day to complete their 26.2 mile marathon. More than 3,300 students participated in the 2011 event.
The Youth Fitness Initiative was created to make the program affordable each year for one Virginia Beach elementary school at which the majority of students come from an economically challenged environment. Parkway Elementary School will receive 100 free entries to the 2012 Shamrock Operation Smile Final Mile, to be conducted on March 17 and J&A Racing will also provide support and coaching for a weekly after school run/walk program to prepare students for the event. “We are excited to have the Panthers of Parkway Elementary as our first Youth Fitness Initiative recipients,” said Amy Frostick, J&A Racing’s co-owner and Shamrock co-race director. “We want as many children as possible to have the opportunity to take part in the wonderful Final Mile program, and to be exposed to the many benefits of life long fitness. This initiative is one small way we can ensure that happens.”
Parkway Elementary was selected from among sixteen eligible Virginia Beach public schools. Questions about the initiative should be directed to J&A Racing’s Youth Fitness Initiative coordinator, Bob Schniedwind, either by e-mail at bob@jandaracing.com, or by calling (757) 412-1056.