Inspiring kids and youth to get active and have fun has been a long-standing goal of Doctors Nova Scotia (DNS). Making movement part of their daily lives can help children forge good habits that they’ll carry into adulthood.After all, healthy kids mean healthy families and healthier communities.

That’s why, back in 2004 DNS started sponsoring the Doctors Nova Scotia Youth Run at the Blue Nose Marathon in Halifax (coming up on Saturday, May 20). In 2005, after introducing Kids Run Club across the province, DNS also began sponsoring a youth run in Sydney organized by the Cape Breton Fiddlers Marathon. This year that event takes place on Sunday, June 4.

Doctors Nova Scotia is proud to be celebrating 20 years of providing sponsorship for these important events. (Fun fact: The association is the only original sponsor still participating in the Blue Nose marathon!)

These races are not only exciting for young runners – and a fun goal they can work toward – but they can also inspire other family members to get out and try running, too.

Most of the youth run participants have been preparing for their big events through Kids Run Club, now offered to schools across the province by DNS Healthy Tomorrow Foundation.

More than 16,000 kids take part in this free program each year, learning not only about running, but also how to set goals and make healthy choices.

This year, 25 Dalhousie medical students are volunteer coaches with KRC. The med students love connecting with kids and helping them discover that physical activity can be fun and a team-building activity. It’s even inspiring med students beyond Nova Scotia to take part. Thanks to Dal Med New Brunswick student Madeline Power, a KRC has been established at Hazen White-St. Francis School in Saint John and will be supported by 14 med students.

Back in Nova Scotia, many of the med student coaches will be heading to the Doctors Nova Scotia Youth Run at Blue Nose with their teams to be “running buddies,” running alongside the kids offering support and encouragement.

Our physicians will also be at both Youth Runs cheering on the young runners and handing out medals as participants cross the finish line. We hope to see you out at the races!

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