4,000 KIDS, PARENTS TURN OUT TO PROMOTE FITNESS.

Byline: Lisa M. Sodders Staff Writer

PANORAMA CITY - More than 4,000 children, parents, teachers and community leaders turned out Saturday for the 5-kilometer Kids Fitness Challenge at Kaiser Permanente.

Children from 77 schools walked, biked, ran, Rollerbladed or rode skateboards or scooters for 3.1 miles on the streets around the medical center. Other activities included a rock-climbing wall, interactive games and healthy-lifestyle booths manned by Kaiser-Permanente experts.

Taylor Ohsol, 12, of Granada Hills rode her Rollerblades around the course with friend Juliana Gutknecht, 11, of Van Nuys. The event was a warm-up to a day of exercise - the girls also had a soccer game later that day.

``We don't sit around playing video games; we'd rather go out and play (sports) with our friends,'' Taylor explained. ``It lets you relax a little after school.''

Her mother, Jadeane Ohsol, 37, made it a family event by running the course with her husband, Peter Sr., 38, while their other two children, Peter Jr., 5 and Sydney, 7, rode their bikes.

``So many family activities are so expensive, it's really nice to go out and do something that doesn't cost money,'' Ohsol said.

Acquiring healthy habits will help children through adulthood, Kaiser- Permanente officials said.

``If we can get the children to learn good eating habits and to exercise, that will stay with them for the rest of their lives and they'll become healthy adults,'' said Dr. Virginia Ambrosini, area medical director.

Organizers and sponsors, including Assemblywoman Cindy Montaez, D-Mission Hills, and Assemblyman Lloyd Levine, D-Van Nuys, along with John Wordin, executive director of the Kids Fitness Challenge Foundation, said they were delighted with the turnout, noting that May's Fitness Challenge at Woodland Hills drew only 2,500 participants.

``I couldn't be more thrilled with (participation levels),'' said Wordin, an avid cyclist. ``We're going to have 10,000 at these events before long. There isn't as much in the East Valley for kids to do. I think people genuinely want to lead healthier lives so any opportunity to do that is welcome.''

Montaez, who said she likes to swim and play golf, agreed. With levels of childhood obesity and diabetes on the rise, particularly among poor children, it benefits everyone if children learn better health habits and families become active together.

``This is truly a community event,'' Montaez said. ``We're going to show kids it's fun to exercise - this is the smartest investment we can make.''

In August, the California Center for Public Health Advocacy found that childhood obesity rates rose 6.2 percent statewide over a three-year period and by as much as 15 percent in the San Fernando Valley area.

``We all have to find a way,'' said Los Angeles City Council President Alex Padilla, who said he likes to hike and wears a pedometer. ``The advantage in Los Angeles is that we don't have snow or a long rainy season that keeps us indoors. Not everyone can get to a gym, but we can all walk around the block.''

Second-grade teacher Jean Brooks, 69, and her son Damon Brooks, 41, both of Altadena, participated not only because they support for Brooks' school, Glenwood Elementary in Sun Valley, but also because they know the importance of exercise for adults.

``I didn't want to believe them when they said, 'You'll have to watch your weight as you get older,''' Damon Brooks said. ``I used to think I could eat whatever I wanted. (Without exercise), I would blow up like the Michelin Man or the Pillsbury Doughboy.''

Lisa M. Sodders, [phone]

lisa.sodders(at)dailynews.com

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2 photos

Photo:

(1) Kids do some stretching at Kaiser Permanente Foundation Hospital in Panorama City, before hitting the street for Saturday's Kids Fitness Challenge.

(2) Participants using all manner of conveyance - bikes, Rollerblades, their feet - await the start of Saturday's Kids Fitness Challenge.

John McCoy/Staff Photographer