With communities across the country battling increasing levels of childhood obesity, the Sports Backers are putting Richmond at the forefront of the fight with the "Save Our Kids: The Obesity Crisis Conference" on Tuesday, December 11th at the Richmond Marriott.

"We have assembled a group of nationally recognized experts who have achieved success in the battle against childhood obesity," says Sports Backers Executive Director Jon Lugbill. "This is our call to action. This conference will result in the implementation of specific programs. We will challenge concerned individuals, community organizations, corporations, and government officials to begin work to wipe out childhood obesity in Central Virginia."

The one-day conference, which is sponsored by the Golden Rule Foundation, Kraft Foods, and the Robins Foundation, will feature presentations by: Ms. Ginny Ehrlich, Schools Director for the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, Washington, DC; Dr. Billy K. Cannaday Jr., Superintendent for Public Instruction for the State of Virginia; Tracy A. Fox, President, Food Nutrition & Policy, Bethesda, MD; and Ms. Beth Kirkpatrick, Director of Education, POLAR USA, NY.

There will also be break-out sessions led by regional experts: Best Practice Breakout Sessions: Gail Hill, Counselor, Cherry Tree Elementary School, Fishers, IN; Raeann Zylman, Physical Education teacher, Veterans Memorial Middle School, Blue Island, IL; Kristin Brittle, RD Action for Healthy Kids/Virginia Healthy Pathways Coalition; Mr. Christopher Rehling, Director of Training and Community Partnerships, Sports 4 Kids, Baltimore, MD; Maria Miller, Physical Education teacher, Pine Hill Middle School, Pine Hill, NJ; Michele Wiberg, Associate Principal, DeLong Middle School, Chippewa, WI; Susan Love and Mike Dove, Directors of Just Run!, Monterey, CA; and Sara Brodsky, 5th Grade Teacher, South Hialeah Elementary School, Hialeah, FL.

The Sports Backers are leaders in Richmond's battle against childhood obesity through Fit for Life, a free incentive-based youth fitness program for school children. In addition, they sponsor many community parent-child fitness events like the First Market Kids Mile, the James River Scramble Junior, and the Richmond Times-Dispatch Kids Run.They also award $62,000 a year to qualified high school scholar-athletes.

All concerned citizens are invited to attend the Save Our Kids: The Obesity Crisis Conference. The cost is $35, which includes lunch.

Sign up online at www.sportsbackers.org.