2013 Athleta Games Raise Awareness and Donations for Cool Kids Campaign; Bringing Families Together through Fun and Exercise

As the sponsored athlete for the Towson Athleta store, I am participating in the upcoming Iron Girl Triathlon (August 18th!) for a number of reasons. I am doing the race in memory of my friend, Rene Altiere, and I wanted to help a local charity through my race participation; one that would be near and dear to my heart as well as Rene’s. These reasons have led me to connect with an amazing organization: the Cool Kids Campaign. Their mission is to provide kids with cancer a higher quality of life for themselves and their families while they face the challenges of cancer and its treatments. As a fundraiser for my race, and this great cause, I have decided to share my love of movement in honor of all of the amazing kids—big, small, and all ages too!

On July 27th, from 1 to 3pm, I will be hosting the 2013 Athleta Games at the Athleta store (834 Dulaney Valley Road in Towson). I’m excited about this event as all donations will be going to the Cool Kids Campaign. Athleta will be donating ten percent of the sale proceeds between 1 and 3pm – a special voucher is required at checkout —it can be printed from www.facebook.com/reshapewithape under “Events.”

The purpose of this event is to bring families together: to motivate everyone to move with smiles, to have fun, and to summons the “inner kid” in all of us. The 2013 Athleta Games will feel similar to an Elementary School’s Field Day. Field Day consisted of a variety of events where you put your best foot forward to win a special ribbon. Participants must be prepared to carefully walk with a hardboiled egg, hula hoop, transfer water balloons, crawl, and squat! Once you’ve worked up an appetite on Game Day, you’ll be pleased to know that Court Towers Café will be donating some special snacks, as well as Prigel Family Creamery’s donation of ice cream from grass-fed cows! And, yes, this personal trainer absolutely supports ice cream consumption… Everything in moderation!

I was inspired to create this event while researching human movement—the idea that we need to revert back to some of the basics we did as kids: rocking, rolling, crawling, etc. A lot of people dread their “workouts,” so perhaps a return to fun movements can help with that. Being active does not have to be so gosh darn awful! I personally refuse to call it a “workout.” For me, it is “kettlebell training” or “rockin’ the bells!” If picking up heavy things doesn’t motivate you, or running, or any other activity that you see other people doing makes you think, “ugh, that sucks,” then the trick is to find something that you truly DO love to do. MOVE. It doesn’t matter what you do, just do it. This doesn’t involve a couch, or a TV, or a video game—it means you actually have to stand up and move away and step outside your box, i.e., your house.

The Cool Kids Campaign strives to make kids feel like kids, regardless of whether they’re healthy or sick. I hope this event is a reminder for you to love your life and appreciate each moment that you have. Think back to your childhood and think of all of your favorite activities. Envision how your body moved, how you laughed and giggled, and how free you felt without the physical limitations that you may currently have—shoulder tightness, lower back pain, etc.

I hope you’ll join me on Saturday, July 27th for the 2013 Athleta Games. We’ll have some fun and raise money for a terrific cause based right here in Towson. For more information please visit me on Facebook (link above!).

Please RSVP to the Towson Athleta at (410) 296-1302 if you plan on participating in the Games, and don’t forget to download and print your store coupon! I look forward to getting silly with all the kid-adults and kids!!!!!