AMA Youth Run Club make light work

AMA Youth Run Club make a better world

Goal for 2015-16 school year: 350 schools AMA Youth Run Club Begun in 2013, the YRC is a partnership of the AMA and Ever Active Schools Started with 74 schools and approximately 4,000 students (primarily elementary) Ended last school year with 305 schools and 17,000 (running) students! Goal for 2015-16 school year: 350 schools

AMA Youth Run Club Mission: Vision: Through example and leadership, the YRC teaches and encourages Alberta youth to live a mentally and physically active, healthy and nutritional lifestyle. Vision: It’s called a “running club” but the YRC strives to create a safe, fun environment that welcomes and empowers all participants.

AMA Youth Run Club

AMA Youth Run Club

AMA Youth Run Club Program Goals Increase levels of physical activity in school-age children/youth. 2015 ParticipACTION Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth Health Professionals: Be influential. Promote every child’s connection with nature and the outdoors – identify outdoor play resources and partner with municipalities, parks, nature-related organizations, parent groups and children to support this process.

AMA Youth Run Club Develop life-long healthy lifestyle habits and decrease screen time among school-age children and youth. 2015 ParticipACTION Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth Only 9% of children age 5-17 meet the guidelines for their age group of 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous-intensity activity per day.

AMA Youth Run Club Develop youth leaders and champions to help sustain the program. Expand and grow the program throughout the province and maximize capacity at the individual school/club level. Educate on nutrition, sun safety and injury prevention.

40-50% more physical activity in YRC youth AMA Youth Run Club + 18-20 mins/day vs Alberta + 21 mins/day vs Canada 40-50% more physical activity in YRC youth What did we find? Youth in the AMA run club achieve an additional 20 minutes of MVPA daily, compared to youth studied in the Healthy Hearts cohort between 2008 and 2010. They also achieve an additional 20 minutes daily compared to a population-based sample of similar aged children from across Canada.

AMA Youth Run Club The YRC is supported by: The AMA and its YRC partner: Ever Active Schools Ambassadors: Paula Findlay | Tim Berrett Sponsors: MD Financial Management | Physiotherapy Alberta Champions: AMA Physicians, medical students, residents

AMA Youth Run Club What does a YRC Champion do? Visit a YRC school and make a fitness or nutrition/good health presentation Strap on your runners and run with a club. If there isn’t a YRC at a school in your area, start one! Make the YRC part of your ZMSA’s or PCN’s community involvement/ engagement efforts.

AMA Youth Run Club YRC Champions Physicians Medical students Residents Educate/present Run with a club Help coach a club ZMSA/PCN involvement Healthy, active children become healthy, active adults. Be a role model. LIVE the mental and physical benefits of a healthy lifestyle.

AMA Youth Run Club Want to be a YRC Champion? Contact Hayley Degaust, EAS Provincial YRC Coordinator, to: Get connected with a YRC school Find out if a school in your area has a YRC (EAS can facilitate program set-up) hayley@everactive.org | 780-454-4745

AMA Youth Run Club AMA resources – www.albertadoctors.org Six Tips for Talking tip sheets, e.g. Running: It’s good for your mind, too Sweet dreams! Sleep keeps you healthy Video – Tips for Presenting to Elementary Students – featuring Dr. Kim Kelly, pioneer YRC Champion EAS resources – www.everactive.org

AMA Youth Run Club Dr. Kim Kelly, running with her son, Alex

AMA Youth Run Club Ambassadors Paula Findlay Canadian Triathlete 2012 Olympics Tim Berrett Canadian Race Walker 1992-2008 Olympics

AMA Youth Run Club We have the schools, the kids, a partner, sponsors, ambassadors ... We just need YRC Champions!

albertadoctors.org/advocating/many-hands AMA Youth Run Club AMA Contacts Vanda Killeen, Senior Communications Consultant, Public Affairs, AMA Vanda.killeen@albertadoctors.org Janet E. Boyer, Coordinator, Professional Affairs, AMA Janet.boyer@albertadoctors.org albertadoctors.org/advocating/many-hands