By Town Crier Staff Report
This Saturday the YMCAs of the Mid-Peninsula and Santa Clara Valley, including the El Camino branch in Mountain View, will co-host a 5-kilometer run and walk commemorating the 150th anniversary of the YMCA’s founding in the United States.
The YMCA World’s Largest Run will begin at 7 p.m. on a certified course at Shoreline Park in Mountain View.
“The YMCA of the Mid-Peninsula is thrilled to take part in this national event, said Barry Taylor, YMCA president and CEO. “Our hope is that parents and their kids sign up and run together as a family. Sports and physical activities are an ideal opportunity to stay healthy together and connected with each other.”
The YMCA World’s Largest Run is a national event with a synchronized start time throughout 700 cities across the continental U.S. and Hawaii. Proceeds from the local event will be used to subsidize Y programs such as day camp, after-school care and swim lessons for disadvantaged children, teens and families in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties.
“According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 14 percent of children and 12 percent of teens are severely overweight,” said Nikki Holloway, senior health and P.E. director at the YMCA of the Mid-Peninsula. “One of the goals of the YMCA World’s Largest Run is to help kids and adults view exercise as fun instead of drudgery.”
The YMCA of the Mid-Peninsula was first established in 1893 and now has five branches and 10 child-care programs. The YMCA serves communities in southern San Mateo and northern Santa Clara counties. Meeting the needs of more than 40,000 local children, teens, adults and seniors, programs include child care, mentoring, teen leadership development, youth camping, activities for older adults, community development, health and fitness and youth and adult sports.
Participants may register online at www.ymca.net or at local YMCAs, including the El Camino branch. Registration is $18 adults, $5 children. All participants will receive a T-shirt and race packet.
For more information, call 969-9622.
