My husband and I recently teamed up with a program called Team Kids Cafe as volunteer running coaches for underprivileged kids all over Lubbock, Texas.  This six week program was an incredible experience for us and our family.

Here is a description of the program straight from the Team Kids Cafe Website:

“Team Kids Cafe is a coordinated training program to promote running and fitness to children of the South Plains Food Bank’s Kids Café after-school program. The main objective of the Team Kids Café program is to achieve positive changes in the long term health of children by encouraging active and healthy lifestyles through running. Research shows that running can help children do better in school, manage stress, and reduce childhood obesity.”

Click Here to read an article about how vigorous exercise helps children in academic performance.

 We worked with the kids at a local boys and girls club twice a week for one hour each time.  At the beginning of each day, we would start with the “Champions Pledge.”

After the champions pledge, we coached them on healthy habits, proper running techniques, safety and exercise. We would then proceed to have an activity or game  to warm up.  Each activity would involve running and of course, lots of FUN!

     

After the warm-up game, we put our running skills to the test and run up to a mile to train and get ready for our race!  And our cool down and team cheer after that.

     

Each kid that participates in Team Kids Cafe (about 200!) gets brand new Brooks running shoes. Thanks to the generous donation of a local company, Humdinger Equipment, and the work and discounts of a great local running store, Foot Tech. Watching the kids receive their brand new running shoes is like Christmas morning!

Race Day

After 6 weeks of training and fun for these kids, race day came and we had a great time! The morning air was a little chilly and the kids were a little nervous….

   

But it didn’t take long for them to warm up, run their hearts out, and be all smiles by the end!   I could see the joy and pride in their faces as they worked for a goal and achieved it.

This program has been such a great blessing for my little family. It has felt so meaningful at every step. At the very least we have made some wonderful new friendships and enjoyed running with these great kids. But I feel that much more has come from this program than just a little fun run. I’ll never forget seeing 11-year-old Joey after we finished the race– upon learning that HE WON with a time of 6:47. He ran his guts out and passed 10 kids at the end of the race! He and his mom were simply ecstatic about his performance. He has a real talent, and we couldn’t help but talk about his potential for earning a college scholarship if he works hard enough. Who knows, this may be the start of something amazing for little Joey and his family. He will not forget this day and what he accomplished.

I believe in running. It changes people for the better. It makes us healthier, happier, and stronger. Running is the perfect way to bless the lives of these kids. It teaches them to set and reach goals, pace themselves, strengthen their mind and body, and endure to the end. Coach Terry is either inspired or a genius (or both.) I hope and pray that these kids will remember this time with fondness, and that this opportunity will help them to continue running for years to come.

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Meet Terry Dalton, the creator of Team Kids Cafe.  In his own words,

My burning desire to help underprivileged kids comes from being one myself. For many years I had feelings of having no value and didn’t deserve anything good. I felt like no one really cared about me. Sports helped change all that. With sports, I became a member of a team and learned about the power of setting goals and working hard to achieve those goals. I learned valuable life lessons about teamwork, leadership and commitment. But most of all I learned that no kid should ever have to endure those negative feelings of no self-worth. The message of Team Kids Cafe to every underprivileged kid is: you have tremendous value and you will accomplish great things if you have a positive attitude, strong motivation, work hard, and take pride in everything you do.

He is on a mission to fight childhood obesity. Let’s join him!

He asked me to share this program with the world so that we can all do our part to fight childhood obesity.

So, here it is! The full Team Kids Cafe program for you to use in your own community/family. Click the link below for the full Team Kids Cafe PDF.

2015 Team Kids Cafe Program PDF       

DONATE

Click HERE to make a donation to Team Kids Cafe (specify to donate in Honor of Team Kids Cafe in the designated box.)

Volunteer to be a coach, find out how to HERE.

For more inquiries about the Team Kids Cafe Program and getting started in your own area, contact Terry at tldalton51@hotmail.com.

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I can’t wait to hear about your successes with this awesome program!

XOXO -Laura

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