I Run Kids Marathon!

It has now been almost 6 months since the 2011 WELS Kids Marathon and what a success it was. 433 wonderful kids from the Milwaukee area (as well and Green Bay, Lake Mills, and other parts of the great state of Wisconsin) completed their own marathon by running 26.2 miles over the summer as well as reading 26 books or for 26 hours. Congratulations, you guys are awesome!


It is now time for the committee and I to begin the planning for the 2012 Kids Marathon. We have decided to make a few changes to the Kids Marathon but hopefully they are all for the better and kids everywhere.


First, last year we had a contest to decide on a new name for the Kids Marathon. The goal was to make the program become friendlier as well as attract more kids (and parents) to share our passions with. Unfortunately, we only receive a few submitted names and while each one was a great name, it wasn't quite what we were looking for. In the end, we have decided to rename the Kids Marathon to the "I Run Kids Marathon". No, the name has nothing to do with the Apple and we don't want it to be confused with that at all. We chose this name because that is what I do, I run. That is what the entire committee does, and it is what we hope you or your child does, Run! I Run ... to Make a Difference! I Run ... to be healthy! I Run ... for God! There are a million reasons why people run, I could list off so many as to why I run and I am going to leave it open to the Kids of the 2012 I Run Kids Marathon to come up with their own reasons. We maybe even post these reasons on this site or at the final mile late this summer. Why do you run? We will find out soon.


The second change will be the charity we choose for the kids donation. We absolutely love the fact that we made a donation to the Jenny Crain Make It Happen fund last year as well as MS Run the US. These are wonderful charitable causes and I hope you continue to support these. But the decision has been made that we will choose a "children's" charity in the future similar to when we made a donation to help for the care of Luke Currier and his battle with Klippel-Feil Syndrome. After all, it is kids who are running the Kids Marathon (like Luke did the past 2 years), let's support kids who need help. We have not chosen which charity it will be for 2012 as of yet so if you have a great choice, please let us know about it.


We have a few more ideas formulating as well. How many of you kids marathon participants want to see your parents or friends run the final mile as well? We are looking to create a 1 mile race to take place right after the kids are done for high school aged kids and adults. Let's get everyone out there running! With a small donation directly to the charity we choose, adults (parents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, grandparents, friends) can run a mile too and maybe even with a prize. We will work to make this happen at the final mile.


Let me conclude by thanking all the kids, parents, and sponsors who have supported the Kids Marathon the first 3 years we have existed. To date, we have had a total of 1027 kids marathoners and we hope and pray that this is only the beginning.


Why do you Run?


Thank you,


Bill Schneider
I Run Kids Marathon Director

"I Run To Make A Difference"