Louie’s Kids Takes Run Buddies and Fit Club Programs Across The South
April 24, 2011
To Continue the Fight Against Childhood Obesity Funds are Being Raised with Yoga Marathons in both Savannah, GA, Charlotte, NC, and Atlanta, GA
CHARLESTON, SC – April 24, 2011 – After an article ran about Louie’s Kid’s Run Buddies Program in the April 2011 issue of Runner’s World, hundreds of calls came in from people in communities across the country, Canada, Hawaii and Japan. The response was nothing short of extraordinary for the organizers at Louie’s Kids and it ignited their plans to take the Run Buddies and Fit Club Programs to fight childhood obesity across the South and Beyond.
On April 9 Louie’s Kids partnered with COPE (Childhood Obesity Prevention and Education) to host an inaugural Yoga Marathon in historic Forsyth Park in Savannah, GA. Over one hundred devoted yogis joined together for an afternoon of down dogs, headstands and mountain poses to raise over $16,000. The money raised will benefit COPE, which will be utilizing the funding to support a Louie’s Kids’ program in Savannah this fall.
The response in Savannah was so amazing for us as an organization and for me personally, explains Louis Yuhasz, founder of The Yoga Marathon, Run Buddies and Louie’s Kids. “I am so indebted to the yoga community. It is such a blessing to take this event on the road to benefit other areas with our programs.”
On June 4 Louie’s Kids will host another Yoga Marathon in Charlotte, NC in Freedom Park from 11 am – 2 pm. Participants can register by creating a personal fundraising page at www.louieskids.org/charlotte. Friends and family can support their individual efforts to complete 108 Sun Salutations. Sponsors also can donate money for each Sun Salutation or minute of yoga completed. The Yoga Marathon will benefit and launch a Run Buddies program in the Charlotte community.
Plans currently are in place to expand the Run Buddies program in Atlanta and other cities across the South. The Charleston Yoga Marathon is set to take place on Saturday, October 8, 2011. To find out more about participating or becoming a sponsor in the Charlotte, Atlanta or Charleston Yoga Marathons visit www.louieskids.org or contact Ashley Gunnin at 843-901-0431.
Run Buddies is an athletic mentorship program, matching adult running mentors with aspiring young runners at risk for childhood obesity. Currently, there are more than 25 successful partnerships in Charleston currently. To learn more, visit www.runbuddies.org . Fit Club is a custom tailored program that incorporates ongoing support in an after-school environment which is implemented through collaborative efforts with local school administrators. The 4-month plan includes nutritional education; a daily regimen of physical activity; family engagement; weekly group therapy sessions with a contracted clinician; and meetings at the school for encouragement and support. Since 2004, Louie’s Kids has raised over $515,000.00 for programs that benefit overweight and obese children in Charleston. To learn more, visit www.louieskids.org .
About Louie’s Kids:
Louie’s Kids is a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization that raises funds to help treat childhood obesity, which afflicts 25 million American children today. Louie’s Kids works to find the best treatment options to meet the needs of each child. We find the fix that fits, one kid at a time. Founded in 2001 in Alexandria, VA and now operating from Charleston, SC, Louie’s Kids serves economically disadvantaged kids nationwide. To learn more, visit www.louieskids.org.
