Austin, TX – (Sept. 2, 2020) The 44th annual Statesman Capitol 10,000, presented by Baylor Scott & White Health and scheduled for Sunday, April 11, 2021, is proud to name Marathon Kids as the race beneficiary. In addition to one dollar from every Cap10K registration going to the local nonprofit organization, race participants can also choose to make an additional donation when registering for 2021, which the Statesman will match up to $10,000. Registration is now open at Cap10K.com.
Founded in Austin in 1995, Marathon Kids is a nonprofit on a mission to get kids moving. The Marathon Kids program is implemented in Austin ISD districtwide, as well as hundreds of other schools across the country. Kids who participate in the running and walking program set goals to cover a cumulative four marathons, or 104.8 miles, over the course of the school year, one mile at a time.
Jeff Simecek, the Cap10K race director, supports Marathon Kids in its mission that aligns with the spirit and purpose of the Capitol 10,000. “Since the first Cap10 back in 1978,” says Simecek, “this race has been about bringing the Austin community together in the name of good health, and Austin’s kids are the heart and the future of our city. I’m happy that our race and the Austin running community will support Marathon Kids in their mission to get kids active and set them on the path toward a lifetime of good health.”
“Helping kids develop a love of running that will serve them their whole lives has always been our mission,” says Marathon Kids CEO Cami Hawkins. “Now, with so much uncertainty in schools and life in general due to COVID-19, it’s more important than ever for kids to move their bodies and reap the benefits of exercise for their physical and mental health. We are thrilled to be the beneficiary of the 44th annual Cap 10K in 2021. We are celebrating our 25th anniversary this year and what better way to show the strength of our community than the pairing of Marathon Kids and the Cap10K! We are grateful for this partnership, as it will help us in our mission to reach more kids than ever and make the Marathon Kids program available to all, without cost as a barrier.”
As of 2020, the Marathon Kids program is offered at no charge for all schools and community organizations and includes access to Marathon Kids Connect, the organization’s new digital lap-tracking app and reporting platform. Marathon Kids Connect was developed to make it easier than ever to track and report on kids’ active time, and it will help to meet students’ shifting needs if the 2020–21 school year includes periods of distance-learning from home. Teachers, coaches, parents, and volunteers can use the platform and app to connect, get involved, and support their student runners in making progress, hitting milestones, and celebrating achievements.
More About Marathon Kids
Marathon Kids is on a mission to get kids moving. When kids feel healthy, they perform better in school, exhibit better behavior, and make better choices. With a fun, easy, and rewarding walking and running program, the nonprofit has inspired more than 2.5 million children over the past 25 years to live happier, healthier lives.
To kick off its 25th anniversary season in Austin, Marathon Kids is inviting the community to join in a celebratory 25,000-mile virtual relay around the world. During the month of September, participants will run or walk, adding their miles to the collective goal of running just past the circumference of the earth.
Once the goal is reached, the (virtual) baton will be passed to students starting a brand new season as Marathon Kids. They will start their 2020/21 school year with a big win already under their belts. So, lace up and make your miles count this fall, by joining forces with Marathon Kids as We Run the World together. To register, visit: marathonkids.org/weruntheworld
About Statesman Media:
Statesman Media is the premier media company in Central Texas. Its brand portfolio spans print and digital, reaching readers on the smartphone, tablet or laptop platform they prefer. The portfolio includes the Austin American-Statesman, named Newspaper of the Year in both 2013 and 2014 by the Texas Associated Press Managing Editors; six community newspapers; Austin360, the entertainment publication; corresponding websites, statesman.com, hookem.com, and austin360.com; the digital edition, Statesman ePaper; dynamic apps like the Austin360 app, Statesman Live, Statesman Weather; and social media feeds, @statesman and @austin360. The print products reach more than 638,000 readers each week, while digital platforms draw 5 million visitors accessing more than 26 million pages each month. The diverse media company also offers commercial printing, packaging and delivery services. Statesman Media owns and manages Statesman Cap10K as well as several community and charitable efforts including Statesman Season for Caring and Statesman Swim Safe for Austin Kids, a local program that teaches at-risk children to swim. Statesman Media is part of Gannett.
About Gannett Co., Inc.
Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI) is an innovative, digitally focused media and marketing solutions company committed to strengthening communities across our network. With an unmatched reach at the national and local level, Gannett touches the lives of nearly 140 million people monthly with our Pulitzer-Prize winning content, consumer experiences and benefits, and advertiser products and services. Gannett brands include the USA TODAY and more than 260 daily local media brands, digital marketing services companies ReachLocal, WordStream, and ThriveHive and U.K. media company Newsquest. To connect with us, visit www.gannett.com.
