THE whole nation ran, jogged, walked and danced the Zumba in four cities in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao in celebration of Alaska Milk Day last weekend.
They came to McKinley West, Taguig; SM City Naga; SM Seaside Cebu and SM City Davao to join the Family Fun Run at 5 a.m., the milk toast held at 6 a.m. and a Zumba session, which started at 6:30 a.m. Free breakfast was served to all participants.
Alaska Milk Marketing Director Blen Fernando said the program which encourages people to start the day with exercise and a nutritious breakfast continues to grow every year.
“People look forward to it. It just keeps growing bigger every year. We started with just a family fun run for 3,000 a few years ago. This year more than 12,000 registered nationwide and many more came to run and dance. We hope this event helps people remember to exercise and drink milk regularly throughout the year,” said Fernando.
Alaska donated the same number of cans of Alaska Milk to Children’s Hour, a fundraising organization that helps other organizations make the lives of disadvantaged children better.
The power breakfast consisted of Alaska Milk paired with champorado and pandesal filled with Alaska condensed milk. The “Alaska Gatas for Breakfast” campaign wants everyone to start the day right with exercise and a nutritious breakfast.
“The effort to foster healthy habits among individuals and families—through the combination of exercise and proper nutrition—is Alaska’s way of helping the public stay fit, healthy and strong,” said Fernando.
Alaska wants today’s children and their parents to get off their couch, leave their gadgets for the day and engage in physical activity.
“We are not limiting the participants. Everyone is welcome. They can just walk in and join the run and the Zumba session. Every segment of society joined us. We have blind runners, children and toddlers. This just keeps growing,” said Fernando.
Jogging groups, walking groups, neighborhood exercise groups, office mates as well as families and friends took advantage of the safe and secure venue for the fun run.
Members of the PNP Maritime Group came in three six-by-six trucks to join the five kilometer run. They said they came not just to keep fit and healthy but to also develop the bond of kinship and camaraderie among their ranks.
“There was a very popular Zumba session which attracted all ages. From teens to seniors. Many of the participants who came belonged to their own Zumba neighborhood groups. Everyone danced,” said Fernando.
The public enthusiastically joined the “Gatas for Breakfast” campaign to help combat obesity and malnutrition in the country by posting their photos with a milk moustache online.
Alaska Milk Day celebration is part of Alaska’s continuing advocacy toward health and nutrition, particularly its Nutrition, Action, Champion campaign.
The Fun Run categories include 3K for family, 3k and 5k for individuals, as well as 1K for 6 to 8 year olds who will also get free Disney and Marvel character theme freebies along with finishers’ medals.
World Milk Day is celebrated annually worldwide. It focuses attention on milk as a universal food central to health and well-being across cultures and nations. Alaska Milk encourages children and adults alike to get into the habit of drinking milk and engaging in sports activities for optimum health.