SEATTLE (Aug. 22, 2015) — Nearly 75 young athletes participated in the second UnitedHealthcare IRONKIDS® Seattle Fun Run today at Genesee Park. UnitedHealthcare mascot Dr. Health E. Hound kicked-off the fun run, joined by Sylvia Villalovos-Aguilar, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Washington.

Local athletes, ages 3-15, had the opportunity to run along portions of the Iron Girl Seattle course, which takes place tomorrow. For the first time in Washington, IRONKIDS offered 1-mile and ¼-mile tracks for physically challenged youth athletes. At the start of the fun run, Villalovos-Aguilar presented a check for $3,000 to local community partner Victory Outreach Children’s Ministry to help promote the organization’s free programs for Seattle youth.

“The IRONKIDS fun run is a great way for our community to come together in an active and healthy way and to teach our youth the importance of a healthy lifestyle,” said Doug Bowes, CEO, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Washington. “UnitedHealthcare is grateful for the opportunity to partner with IRONMAN and the Victory Outreach Children’s Ministry.”

This is the fourth year UnitedHealthcare is supporting IRONKIDS as part of the company’s commitment to help stem the rising tide of childhood obesity through healthy lifestyles. The UnitedHealthcare IRONKIDS 2015 Series features nine one-mile fun-runs and a dip-and-dash.

Obesity among children and adolescents has almost tripled since 1980, with nearly one in every three children being overweight or obese, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Children from low-income and low-education households are three-times more likely to suffer from obesity, which is a leading risk factor for diabetes, heart disease and many cancers, according to America’s Health Rankings®, an annual comprehensive assessment of the nation’s health on a state-by-state basis. Washington ranks 18th in the country with nearly 27 percent of adults estimated to be obese.

“We are thrilled to have a partner in UnitedHealthcare to sponsor these youth events as part of our IRONMAN series,” said Carola Ross, Chief Sales Officer for IRONMAN. “The opportunity the IRONKIDS fun-runs offer young athletes is tremendous, as these races can be the catalyst for a lifetime of exercise and healthy living.”

About IRONKIDS®
After being acquired from the Sara Lee Corporation, which owned the event series since 1985, IRONKIDS® launched in 2009 with nine events in the IRONKIDS® National Triathlon Series. Since the inaugural year, IRONKIDS® has seen more than 60,000 participants and has grown to more than 60 events worldwide including races in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and North America. The brand represents a multi-dimensional approach to creating positive experiences for athletes, families and communities, as well as embodies achievement and determination while fostering self-esteem. The IRONKIDS® mission is to inspire and motivate through the sport to live an active, positive and healthy lifestyle. For more information visit www.ironkids.com.

About UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people nationwide live healthier lives by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. The company offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers, military service members, retirees and their families, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with more than 850,000 physicians and care professionals, and 6,000 hospitals and other care facilities nationwide. UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company. For more information, visit UnitedHealthcare at www.uhc.com or follow @myUHC on Twitter.