Board member Cindy Elsbernd: Hero of the Heartland
Des Moines School Board member Cindy Elsbernd founded Iowa Kidstrong, Inc. in 2005 in response to what has been declared one of today’s most pressing threats to children and families – childhood obesity. The mission of Kidstrong is to promote healthy, active lifestyles among youth.
Only time will tell how many students’ paths she’ll eventually cross but already she’s changed enough of them to be named a Hero of the Heartland by the American Red Cross of Central Iowa in recognition of her efforts.
Cindy is one of 10 honorees at the 10th annual Heroes of the Heartland celebration, being held Thursday, April 12 at the Hy Vee Conference Center in West Des Moines.
“The real heroes are the people who are out there every day working directly with the kids. I just created the opportunity,” she says modestly.
Iowa Kidstrong has different programs for kids of different ages. See-Us Run Des Moines (SRDM) is an innovative intervention program that challenges teens who face adversity in their lives to train for and complete a 26.2 mile marathon. They discover the benefits of goal-setting, character development, adult mentoring and improved health.
SRDM is a school-centered, non-competitive program lasting a minimum of 25 weeks. It relies on a corps of adult volunteers who run with the students after school and through the summer months, forming a unique and mutually rewarding bond. SRDM features a progressive training schedule that takes students from mile zero all the way through completion of the IMT Des Moines Marathon in October.
KidStriders is Kidstrong’s core program. It’s a primarily school-based incentive program which revolves around the goal of running and/or walking a minimum cumulative marathon distance of 26 miles during KidStriders sessions at recess. Students are recognized with a plastic foot token to tie on their shoelaces for every five miles they complete, a T-Shirt for reaching the 26-mile goal along with the opportunity to participate in a “Victory Run” held at the Grand Blue Mile presented every spring by the Drake Relays and Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield. “Beyond the Marathon Incentives” continue to reward students who persist beyond the 26-mile minimum goal.
Iowa Kidstrong provides schools and families a foundation and a framework for the promotion of physical activity. Its noncompetitive nature makes it appealing regardless of athletic ability and provides the additional benefit of enhanced self-esteem that comes from reaching goals and realizing one’s ability to do so. It also emphasizes nutritionally based wellness programs.
Elsbernd’s tenure on the school board didn’t begin until last September. But by then she was already used to going the extra mile in service to community kids and their families.
For more information about Iowa Kidstrong and how you can get involved please click here.
