Run for Somthing Better

Steps towards lifelong healthy living Childhood obesity is becoming a serious health issue in Asia/Pacific as economies mature, affluence increases and easier access to rich foodstuffs leads to expanding waistlines. And statistics are backing this up, supporting the need to change attitudes and encourage children around the region to be more involved in physically active programmes such as exercising, running or at least brisk walking. As a result, ING has launched Run For Something Better. The mission of this not-for-profit programme is to support that change by making more goal-based fitness opportunities available in schools. We want to introduce kids to the benefits of running and physical fitness, and empower children with the means to achieve a healthy lifestyle that they can maintain for the long term. And we're making it fun for kids, too! ING Run For Something Better is to tackle the problem by helping kids become fitter through its support for free, school-based running fitness programmes. It also aims to raise awareness of the importance of healthy living which will impact not only the participating student, but also their friends and family members as students become ambassadors of change.
Healthy lifestyle choices can be fun! The programme encourages and motivates students to participate actively in running by letting them set their own objectives. Children learn that their reward comes in achieving their goals by not quitting and in trying that little bit harder. In the process, they learn that they can avoid childhood obesity and improve their overall wellbeing at the same time by doing regular exercise.

The impact By encouraging a healthier life among children, ING hopes to encourage the lifestyle as the children become adults, not least as we see a clear link between being physically fit and fiscally fit. In addition, children learn about setting goals and working hard to achieve them through the recognition and small rewards presented to the children as they reach the various milestones in their running challenges.

Starting small with big plans ING in Asia/Pacific introduced the programme to the regional starting in Hong Kong on 3rd November. The pilot kicked off as a local school event held in the northern district of Tai Po in collaboration with the Norwegian International School. The participants, children aged 6 to 11, came from five schools: Bradbury School, Chinese International School, French International School, Hong Kong International School and the event host the Norwegian International School. The event was extremely successfully with all the students determined to finish the race even though some of them were tired after the first lap. It was all worth it in the end when everyone left winners sporting lions as prizes to remind them of the day's achievements. Students were not the only ones talking about the sense of accomplishment they felt crossing the finish line; local sports athletes who participated in the launch at the invitation of ING also commented on the programme's impact on youth fitness. As an elite triathlete," notes Daniel Lee, international triathlete who currently ranks number one in Asia's Men Elite league, "I had to develop good fitness habits early in life. Starting off on the right foot as a child makes it much easier to lead a healthy lifestyle as an adult. By participating in the ING Run For Something Better programme, I hope to encourage young people in Hong Kong to learn about the importance of physical activity and the benefits of setting their own health and fitness goals. Achieving personal goals is what the programme promotes. "Not every child is going to become a professional athlete – but they can take the right steps toward leading a healthy life," says Vincci Hui, who represents Hong Kong in the Junior triathlete category. "My parents and I always focused on proper exercise, training, and good nutrition so that I could be as successful as possible. I'm excited to be partnering with ING and supporting the ING Run For Something Better initiative so that other kids can learn these same values." The programme follows on from ING’s success in the United States, where ING Run for Something Better has been in action since 2006 and about which more information can be sourced at www.orangelaces.com

Run For Something Better

More information about U.S. Run for Something Better

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