People and dogs of all ages ran, walked and scampered Saturday in support of physical fitness at the Frank Kush 5K Family & Dog Fun Run & Walk.
A record of more than 1,000 people participated in the 18th annual run at Tempe Beach Park. The run was established in 1991 to promote physical wellness for Tempe youth.
Andy Dzurinko, president of the Frank Kush Youth Foundation, said the event has seen changes in the variety of people that come, but its target group is still youth.
“Every kid 15 and under gets a medal,” Dzurinko said. “Everybody is a winner.”
Money raised at the 5K run and walk benefits health awareness at local schools to buy physical education equipment, an issue Dzurinko said he didn’t think was properly addressed before the foundation was established.
The event has always been successful, mostly because people have fun, he said, but also because it receives significant attention from the city of Tempe and ASU.
“ASU has always been a big supporter of ours,” Dzurinko said, adding that Sun Devil Stadium shows public service announcements that support the event.
Frank Kush, 80, former ASU football head coach, said he allowed the event to carry his name under conditions that it served youth and was cost efficient.
“I’ve always enjoyed getting youngsters involved in physical activities,” Kush said. “Somebody has to be a role model for them.”
Children have misconceptions about what it means to be healthy if they don’t have a role model practicing good physical habits, and the key is reaching out to schools, he said.
“One of my major disappointments is schools dropping physical education,” Kush said. “It’s part of the youngsters’ overall development.”
Physical activity, nutrition and wellness graduate student Kristin Heumann helped with the run as a volunteer for the Exercise and Wellness Graduate Student Organization at the Polytechnic campus.
“We chose the Frank Kush run this year because it’s promoting physical activity among the youth and adult populations,” she said.
The event was a great way for the organization to get involved through ASU, Heumann said, adding that she would love to see participation in the run expand.
The run is re-stimulating the opportunity for people to get involved in physical activity, Kush said.
“It’s one of those activities that you love to see grow,” he said.
Reach the reporter at dbjoraas@asu.edu.
