Ironkids Race to Fight Childhood Obesity

UnitedHealthcare Ironkids

The inaugural UnitedHealthcare Ironkids New Orleans raced around the South Shore Marina Saturday.

April Golenor, president, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Louisiana, and mascot “Dr. Health E. Hound” helped kick-off the 1-mile course aimed to help stem the rising tide of childhood obesity through exercise and healthy lifestyles.

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The UnitedHealthcare Ironkids 2014 Running Series features nine one-mile fun-runs and a dip-and-dash in 10 states. Saturday’s Fun Run was $15/person, and included close to 75 young “triathletes to be”, ages 3 to 15.

UnitedHealthcare Ironkids

Children from low-income and low-education households are three-times more likely to suffer from obesity, which is a leading risk factor for diabetes, heart disease and many cancers, according to America’s Health Rankings, an annual assessment of the nation’s health on a state-by-state basis.

UnitedHealthcare and Ironkids provided 100 complimentary registrations to the Boys and Girls Club of New Orleans, and also made a $3000 donation to the organization to support youth health programs.

Photos courtesy: UnitedHealthcare / Cheryl Gerber