The Richmond Sports Backers have launched the Richmond Times-Dispatch Kids Marathon program this week at John B. Cary Elementary School in Richmond, VA, in response to the epidemic in overweight, inactive young people.

The teachers and administrators at John B. Cary Elementary School have chosen to make the program a school-wide project for their first through fifth graders and children will be encouraged to run with their classes during the school day. Administrators, teachers, and several of the school's classes were on hand for the kick-off in which the children had the opportunity to run and track their first mile.

The Times-Dispatch Kids Marathon is a free incentive-based fitness program for elementary school-aged children throughout the metro Richmond area culminating with the Richmond Times-Dispatch Kids Run on Saturday, November 12, 2005. The program will encourage students to run 26.2 miles over the course of a 9-week program. The program will be flexible and allow for teachers, volunteers, and parents to take the initiative to get young people started in the program. Running logs may be picked up at any Richmond-area SunTrust Bank or Chick-fil-A location or downloaded at www.richmondmarathon.com

Participants in the Kids Marathon will track their progress on a running log (coloring sheet) and receive incentive prizes at the 5, 10, 15, and 20 mile marks along the way from program sponsors. Children can run their miles anywhere they want...home, during recess at school, soccer practice, or wherever and whenever they can. Children will keep track of their mileage based on the honor system with supervision from a parent, teacher, or facilitator.

"We're aware of studies documenting the increasing youth obesity problem in America," said Faith Hecht, who is coordinating the program for the Sports Backers. "The Richmond Times-Dispatch Kids Marathon program aims to tackle the dilemma head on. By introducing youth to the benefits of a healthy, active lifestyle during their formative years, we hope to encourage and develop habits that will last a lifetime."

The program was developed by the Sports Backers - organizers of the successful YMCA 10k Training Team, the SunTrust Richmond Marathon and the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k - to motivate youth to become more physically active and to build their self-confidence.

Sponsors of the program include the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Chick-fil-A, SunTrust, Paramount's Kings Dominion, the Science Museum of Virginia and the American Cancer Society. Additional program support is provided by the Alcoa Foundation, the Community Foundation, the Richard and Caroline Gwathmey Memorial Trust, the Robins Foundation and the Mary Morton Parsons Foundation.

Photo: Tammy Slusser of Monroeville, PA, won the 2004 women's race at the SunTrust Richmond Marathon in 2:56:40.