The holidays came early for more than 200 New York Road Runners Youth Programs (NYRRYP) kids who received gifts of running shoes from a visiting Santa. On Saturday at St. Francis College in Brooklyn, kids from six Mighty Milers and Young Runners sites gathered to eat pizza, play games and do hip-hop with Mr. and Mrs. Santa Clause’s kid Rocky, the St. Francis mascot.

The new shoes, wrapped in colorful holiday paper, were donated by generous friends of NYRRYP. Teachers, coaches, and parents also enjoyed the festivities. After the gift-giving and games were over, all the guests were invited to watch the St. Francis basketball game, courtesy of the College (a game won by the Terrier Woman 59-54 over Colgate).

The enthusiasm for the Mighty Milers program was summed up by Jennifer, 11, from P.S. 197, as she tried on her new shoes: "I love everything about Mighty Milers. I get to hang out with my friends, go on trips to races, and now I catch the boys when we play tag."

Richard Reiss, a teacher and Mighty Milers coach at P.S. 197, was thrilled to have his kids invited to the holiday party. “Finding the Mighty Milers running program was like getting Manna from Heaven. It is just what my kids needed. As a teacher and the coach, all I can say is that this program exceeded all my expectations. It gives the kids a gateway to a healthy lifestyle, teaches them discipline, perseverance and determination. The best part of my day is walking with them every morning. Sometimes they are at the school yard waiting for me at 7:00 a.m. And not only has this program benefited my kids, I lost 40 pounds," says Reiss.

(Story courtesy of Runners World / Photo courtesy of New York Road Runners)

St. Francis College, founded in 1859 by the Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn, is located in Brooklyn Heights, N.Y. Since its founding, the College has pursued its Franciscan mission to provide an affordable, high-quality education to students from New York City’s five boroughs and beyond.
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St. Francis College, 180 Remsen Street, Brooklyn Heights, NY 11201
www.sfc.edu