Brooklyn School, Runners Club Make Strides To Combat Asthma

By: Kafi Drexel

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A Brooklyn school is using a running program to battle asthma, which still counts as a leading cause of missed school days and hospitalizations for children under the age of 14. NY1's Kafi Drexel filed the following report.

At PS/IS 184 in Brownsville, where there are are some of the highest asthma rates in the city, it's tough to find a child that's not suffering from it. But through a free running program called "Mighty Milers" sponsored by New York Road Runner's Team For Kids, the students are getting some unique therapy.

"In this community there are a lot of children with asthma. Because of that, they are afraid to exercise. They are afraid to run. But a lot of children have realized as long as they are using their asthma plan they can run, they can be physically active," said PS/IS 184 Physical Education Teacher Nathaly Warner.

Health experts say exercise in moderation develops lung function, and combats another complication which can only exacerbate asthma: obesity. Throughout the school year, the kids have individualized goals of running a collective marathon of 26.2 miles from September through June. But most have become so motivated that they've upped the anty to run a total of 100 miles each. Kids get incentives like medals and rewards to stick with the program.

"Many times when I play other sports, I start to feel my chest was tight. But ever since I started running my chest wasn't tight," said PS/IS 184 student Xiomara Williams.

"Before I started running, my asthma has been bad. Had been having asthma attacks but doing good ever since I started running," said PS/IS 184 student Juan Martinez.

Besides its health benefits, the program also seems to be sparking major interest in staying active.

"This is setting lifelong, healthy lifestyle habits. This is a perfect way for kids to get on the right track and be able to, in the future, as adults they could run marathons, they could join Road Runners for example," said PS/IS 184 Principal Lamson Lam.

"It got me interested in playing other sports like I used to do, like football, basketball," said PS/IS 184 student Angelo Lizardi.

"When I run all I think about is the positive and not the negative," said PS/IS 184 student Tommy Feliciano.

For more information on the New York Road Runner's Team For Kids, visit http://www.nyrrf.org/get_involved/team_for_kids/.