ATLANTA -- Linebacker Keith Brooking will swap his cleats and shoulder pads for a pair of running shoes and orange shoelaces on Sunday, March 30 as he partners with global financial services leader ING and the “Run for Something Better” program during the 2008 ING Georgia Marathon and Half Marathon.
Brooking is no stranger to running and physical fitness. He is one of only a few NFL athletes to play his entire career -- from Pee Wee leagues to the pros -- in his home state. During his career, he has led the Falcons in total tackles for six consecutive seasons.
Brooking is also extremely active in the Atlanta community. His Keith Brooking Children’s Foundation, a non-profit organization, is committed to serving foster children and the agencies that support them in the metro Atlanta area. By joining forces with ING, he hopes to encourage more Atlanta-area youth to fight childhood obesity and get active as part of the national ING Run for Something Better program.
"As a professional athlete, I firmly believe that leading a healthy lifestyle and staying in shape as a child will lead to a long, healthy life," Brooking said. "By participating in the ING Run for Something Better, I hope to encourage thousands of children in the metro Atlanta area to embrace physical activity and work towards setting their own personal fitness goals.”
In the U.S., childhood obesity has become a serious health epidemic. Educating kids about the importance of living an active and healthy life is the cornerstone of the ING Run for Something Better program. Since 2003, the youth running program has successfully engaged thousands of children, parents and teachers in cities across the country where ING sponsors long-distance running events. In Atlanta, the successful program is organized by ING’s race partner, Georgia Marathon, LLC.
“We’re excited that Keith has chosen to support the ING Run for Something Better during this year’s ING Georgia Marathon and Half Marathon. His involvement in Atlanta will help spread our positive message about youth running and fitness,” said Tom Waldron, Executive Vice President, Human Resources and Brand for ING Americas. “Keith strives to help children through his own Foundation, so he is a perfect ambassador for encouraging young people to start leading a healthier life.”
In this role, Brooking will be wearing a pair of ING’s signature orange shoelaces, which are given to kids’ fitness supporters who make a charitable contribution to the ING Run for Something Better program. ING’s orange laces are available at www.orangelaces.com/atlanta.
On marathon race day, he will also join hundreds of children from 19 middle schools in Atlanta and Decatur who are expected to participate in the ING Run for Something Better “Final Mile” run. This event takes place at 10 a.m. on the official marathon race course. The students will have a dedicated lane and run along Marietta Street and Means Street in downtown Atlanta.
Kids participating in ING Run for Something Better-funded programs have run enough miles to reach the moon and back -- about 475,000 miles. ING has donated more than $1,000,000 to youth running initiatives across the country and is committed to donating a total of $2 million through 2010. By the end of 2008, nearly $200,000 in Run for Something Better funds will have benefited middle school students in Atlanta.
