M&T BANK RUN TO YOUR DREAMS PROGRAM Full-family Introduction to Running as a Lifestyle Kids Anticipate Autographs by Elite Athletes If you want a quick "How to..." -motivate kids at your school to enter an event, -get whole school participation, -encourage healthy competition, -and build a great program, then take a look at the M&T Bank Run to your Dreams Program directed by Dave Oja with the help of a kindergarten teacher Lennie Tucker. Here's a brief overview of their program, but if you are interested, please email the Contact People for complete information. EVENTS The M&T Bank Run to your Dreams Program is part of the Syracuse Festival of Races which includes: Men's 5K Women's 5K United Healthcare Child Health Plus 3K Fun & Fitness Run Community Fun(d) Walk The Community Fun(d) Walk encourages ANY non-profit organization to raise pledges in conjunction with its participation. Participating non-profits keep 100% of the pledges they raise. THE 3K FUN AND FITNESS RUN Everyone participates in this event: moms, dads, kids, scores of groups from area schools, runners, walkers, including fundraisers for a community fund. This is a fun run/walk, a non-competitive event, but while there isn't a prize for the first to cross the finish line, there are awards galore for participation and the healthy competition between schools is what makes this event a giant success. AWARDS FOR SCHOOL PARTICIPATION -Each school that has 25 or more registered participants receives a framed participant certificate. -The top 3 participating schools receive plaques. - A traveling cup is awarded to the school with the greatest participation. The school's name in engraved on the trophy. - A traveling festival cup is awarded to the school outside the Syracuse area to the school which has the greatest participation. The school's name is engraved on the trophy. -The school with the most participation is invited to design the T-shirt for the next year's event. ELITE ATHLETE PROGRAM Another highlight of this whole event is the elite athlete program. The festival offers participating schools the opportunity of having an elite athlete, who will be in town to run the 5K, visit their school to inspire their students. They provide the athlete with specific guidelines on how to prepare a 10 minute talk for a student body from second graders to high school students. Topics include: children preparing for the future, education, self-discipline, support system, balance, focus and commitment, overcoming setbacks, goal setting, healthful diet and rest, hard work and perseverance, healthful lifestyle, and planning for their own future. NEWS BULLETIN EXCERPTS FROM A PARTICIPATING SCHOOL Carlo Cuccaro co-founder of the Lanigan Kids Running Club has sent KR this update. Lanigan had a very special visitor on Friday, October 10th. Renowned distance runner John Itati from Kenya had a simple message for students in grades 3-6. He stressed for students to "Be patient, work hard, set goals, and believe in them." He certainly spoke from experience as he ... has run a mile in less that 4 minutes!! Mr. Itati's informative presentation was capped by a question and answer period from the inquisitive students and an autograph session. If your child received an autograph you may want to have them save it, as Mr. Itati's future as a runner looks extremely bright. In fact, two days after his visit to Lanigan, Itati won Syracuse's Festival of Races, a 5K event, with a time of 13 minutes, 27 seconds. ... Also, as part of the Festival of Races, there was a 3K fun and fitness. Several Lanigan people including parents, staff and students participated. ... Thumbs up to all participants. Also, we received a "School Participation Award" for our school. Look for it in the display case as you enter the building. KR is here to encourage young people to embrace running, stay healthy, and be the best they can be. Please email goodrow@infinoline.net with comments on this article and don't hesitate contacting the people below for more information on this great family running program. Contact Info for the Run to Your Dreams Program lennieruns@aol.com daveoja@a-znet.com festivalofraces.com