NORWICH – With much anticipation, the Healthy Kids Running Series in Norwich (HKRS) is returning to Chenango County this spring, continuing its mission to actively engage youth in the fight against juvenile diabetes and sedentary lifestyles.

Healthy Kids Norwich is a five-week, nonprofit youth running program that not only aims to combat childhood obesity, but also provides children with a positive, educational, and fun introduction to the world of running.

Participants enjoy a fun learning experience which includes living an active lifestyle, dedication, and goal setting.

“The Healthy Kids Running Series is all about having fun and motivating kids to be active. Our goal is to provide a fun and positive experience for every participant and see them improve over the five weeks,” said Jeff Long, the program’s founder and president. “The support and growth of our series has confirmed our value and mission.”

At the completion of the program, every runner receives a medal for participating. Trophies will be awarded based on total accumulated “points” to the top male and female in each of the five age groups. In addition, all runners registered for the five-week program will receive a race bag and a HKRS Norwich tech shirt.

While last year’s HKRS was a great success, organizers anticipate that this year will host even more Chenango youth.