On March 20, 2010, a brisk Sunday morning in Los Angeles, the SOSMentor/ShapeUp team of 180 students and mentors gathered at the starting line, anxiously awaiting the signal for the 2010 LA Marathon 5K to begin. Everyone seemed so excited - and so mentally and physically prepared for this event!  The marathon was an important goal for the SOSMentor’s ShapeUp Program, not only to experience the joy of watching their participants reach the finish line, but in knowing that their efforts will help to make strides in the battle against childhood obesity.

A total of 120 students participated in the event, representing the SOSMentor ShapeUp’s program, integrated within several high schools in Southern California, including Santee High School, Birmingham High School, Canoga Park High School, Belmont High School, Los Angeles Academy of Arts and Enterprise and Gertz-Ressler High School. The students raised an outstanding $9,307 through fundraising efforts at their schools, to help support the program. 

In preparation for the marathon, professional trainers donated their time to work out with the students once a week.  During these training sessions the students were educated about the importance of getting sixty minutes of physical activity every day.  They also learned the proper way to stretch, new exercises to help build muscle and how to do a cardio-vascular workout.  The students received a nutrition education class taught by the ShapeUp program, focusing on the correct and healthy food choices, to maintain the energy required to run the 5K, and help build a foundation for a healthy lifestyle now and in the future.  

In addition, over sixty other SOSMentor participants ranging from board members, Rotarians, and friends and families attended. Volunteers from Pepperdine University and Disney’s “Give A Day, Get A Day” event helped in the set-up and made sure the ShapeUp team had their SOSMentor shirts, LA Marathon shirts and race bibs ready to go. 

The 5K was followed by a delicious and healthy breakfast in the ESPN Zone at LA Live, where recognition was given to all the people who participated in SOSMentor’s ShapeUp program and helped make the event a success.  After breakfast, the celebration continued with recreational activities, relaxation, good cheer and appreciation for their outstanding effort and accomplishment of doing a great job…and feeling great as well!