From Case Western Reserve University Athletics
Distance runners are typically very in-tune to issues related to nutrition and weight management. Thus, it is quite fitting for Case Western Reserve University cross country student-athletes to utilize their knowledge on those topics to give back at The MetroHealth System’s Aamoth Family Pediatric Wellness Center.
During the past year, members of the men’s and women’s cross country teams have spent their Thursday afternoons teaching local youth the importance of a healthy lifestyle through exercise and nutrition.
“We've been volunteering at MetroHealth just about every week, including the summer,” said sophomore Patrick Leo (Honeoye Falls, N.Y./Honeoye Falls-Lima). “We work with two to three staff members who run the program. The kids involved are generally referred by a pediatrician or nutritionist because they're either at or at risk of reaching an unhealthy weight. The program incorporates education about nutrition and a healthy lifestyle with a couple of hours of physical activity, which is where we help out.”
The Aamoth Family Pediatric Wellness Center is a free drop-in space for children and teenagers and their families. The center offers a number of programs on health and wellness, including:
- Learning about food
- Making healthy snacks
- Hands-on cooking lessons for teens
Fitness and exercise activities
- Stretching and moving
- Working out with a personal trainer
Programs for parents
- Budget-friendly dinner ideas
- Infant and toddler nutrition
- Reading food labels
- Support groups
CWRU team members look forward to their weekly interactions at MetroHealth and enjoy making a noticeable impact within the community.
“It’s an enjoyable experience for both us and the kids,” added junior Kelsey Aamoth (Solon, Ohio/Solon), whose family name the center bears. “We typically spend an hour doing exercises and playing games like soccer and capture the flag, which helps keep the kids active. It is a very positive environment and our role is to simply have fun and motivate.”
This past summer, several Spartan student-athletes were also involved with the center’s running club.
“I think it’s an enriching experience for the kids, but it also gives us a chance to step outside of campus and be role models for youth in the community,” said junior captain Taylor O’Neil (Dayton, Ohio/Carroll).
During the summer running club, CWRU student-athletes ran alongside the youth participants, motivating and sharing their passion for running.
“It's rewarding to see the kids who dedicate themselves to improving,” added Leo. “We had some kids who last year couldn't run a mile and now they've competed in several 5k races. You feel like you're making a difference at a crucial time in these kids' lives. It's pretty awesome when you realize that these kids look up to you and just because you told them they can do it, they'll run farther than they ever have in their life.”