Team strong

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Local fitness advocate to host walk from obesity event

By Holly Kline

Local fitness advocate Robanne Robin, along with Community Health Network, is hosting a Walk from Obesity event on Saturday, October 4 from 9 – 11:30 a.m. at Garfield Park in Indianapolis. Kids walk free with an adult registration and Robin is hoping that people will take advantage of this opportunity to bring the whole family out for a morning of exercise and fun activities.

“I want to change the fitness future for Indianapolis-area kids and this walk is for all fitness levels, especially anyone who considers themselves out of shape,” stated Robin. “The Walk from Obesity is designed to encourage people to get back on track, or stay on track, especially kids that may already be struggling with obesity.”

Robin is a Fishers resident, a YMCA National Spokesperson, an author, registered nurse and fitness instructor. She is passionate about showing kids how to invest in their fitness future and she teaches hip hop classes for kids at the Fishers Y.

The Walk from Obesity benefits the ASMBS Foundation and the Obesity Action Coalition, which helps provide education and support for obesity issues. Robin has organized her own fundraising team called YMCA Team Strong. Those interested in participating can visit www.walkfromobesity.com, sign up for the Indianapolis walk and register with a team or as an individual. “Anyone who joins my team should definitely bring a child with them!” urged Robin. “Each child on my team will receive a ‘Get Your STRONG On’ t-shirt and a certificate for a free ‘Building Your Fitness Future’ goal-setting session and group workout with me,” she continued.

Robin loves seeing the reactions of the kids who take her fitness classes. “Their eyes light up and they are thrilled,” she stated. “The kids leave the class with a big sense of accomplishment. They feel a sense of pride.”

She added that the kids also learn that fitness can be fun and she hopes to spread that message with the Walk from Obesity event. Not only will kids and their families have a chance to walk, there will also be a Kid Zone with activities available before and after the walk. “The YMCA of Greater Indianapolis has agreed to run the Kid Zone,” Robin said. She went on to the say that the Kid Zone will have soccer balls, an obstacle course, music and hip hop classes.

Robin explained that the Walk from Obesity course is an approximate one-mile loop around Garfield Park. Participants can walk as many loops as they want from 9 – 11 a.m. and Robin emphasized that the event is not a race. “It’s not about being better than everyone else, it’s about being better than you were yesterday,” she said.

Robin’s friend Margaret Meyer has an 8-year-old daughter who is concerned about body image. Robin asked Meyer to do the Walk from Obesity with her team and Meyer decided that she and her daughter would do it together.

“I need to start now setting good examples and teaching her to be healthy and strong,” said Meyer. “I think the biggest benefit of doing this Walk from Obesity is that it has my daughter and me talking about making better, healthier choices in what we eat and to move everyday so that we can stay healthy and strong,” she continued.

Unfortunately, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 18% of kids in America ages 6 -11 were obese in 2012 and that is up 11% from 1980. “I’m so fired up to be the cheerleader to get kids out there walking,” Robin said. ““I think it’s easier to get them while they’re young. It’s so hard to change. If it was easy, we wouldn’t be having a Walk from Obesity event. The earlier you start something the easier it is to do it,” she shared.

Robin hopes that events like the Walk from Obesity spark conversations about fitness, especially relating to kids. “If there is a fitness future for kids, it must start when they’re young and it should be planned for like a college fund,” Robin emphasized. “If a kid starts out being active for 30 minutes a day, they’re setting themselves up for a healthier lifestyle. They already have the habits in-grained when they become adults.”

Obesity Walk

October 4 from 9-11:30

Location: Garfield Park in Indianapolis

Signup:  www.walkfromobesity.com

Quote: 

“If a kid starts out being active for 30 minutes a day, they’re setting themselves up for a healthier lifestyle.


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