March 2, 2009

LOS ANGELES - After hosting the Marathon Kids Kick-Off Celebration last October, UCLA Athletics will now host the Marathon Kids Final Mile Medal Celebration at Drake Stadium this Saturday, March 14. The Final Mile Medal Celebration marks the end of the five-month program for kindergarten through 5th graders from across the greater Los Angeles area. Participants will run their final lap and a half of their incremental 26.2 mile marathon.

The event begins at 10am and student-athletes from several UCLA programs will be in attendance to interact with the youngsters.

This is the third year that UCLA has hosted the Marathon Kids program. Marathon Kids® is an 11-year-old, free, endurance building running/walking/nutrition/gardening program for kindergartners through 5th graders. The mission is to build a joyful community around children and be quickly accepted into public, private and home schools as a free, innovative celebratory fitness program, resonating with the child and with the child's family. The goal is for the child to develop the love and habit of moving through space and to carry forward the power of muscular, nutritional and psychological well being.

For more information, log on to http://marathonkids.org/losangeles2008.asp