- Author:
- Randy Conat, WJRT-TV
- Source:
- http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/story?section=news/local&id=6453218
FLINT (WJRT) -- (10/16/08)-- The Flint-based Crim Fitness Foundation received an unexpected gift today.
The Crim Fitness Foundation, known for its annual Crim Festival of Races, was given a boost in its efforts to get area children more physically fit. Ronald McDonald House Charities of Outstate Michigan is giving the group $12,500. There was a brief check presentation ceremony at the Crim offices in Flint this morning.
The money will allow the Crim Fitness Foundation to reach an estimated 2,500 additional children throughout Genesee County. Youths who participate in the CrimFit Mileage Club will see more adult mentors in the running and walking programs.
The money will be used to keep the kids motivated to reach their fitness goals.
Gerry Myers is the Crim Foundation CEO. "We've created programming that provides them with shoe laces and toe tokens, certain kinds of things that are motivational for the child so they become more physically active, put in more activity and based on that level of activity they get incentives. These dollars are used to provide those incentives to the kids."
"When we heard about fighting obesity and giving children a better and healthier lifestyle, we got excited," said Samuel Cox with Ronald McDonald House Charities.
"We've done into the schools at structured time where we've recognized a certain course and distance. Those kids go out on their own and keep track of their distance," Myers said.
Bobby Crim, the founder of the Crim Festival of Races, says the donation is a pleasant surprise and more gifts may be on the way.
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