Atlanta Falcons Linebacker Keith Brooking Prepares to 'Run for Something Better' at ING Georgi...( Georgia native encourages children to...),Health

Georgia native encourages children to get a healthier start to life through

running and physical fitness

ATLANTA, March 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Linebacker Keith Brooking will swap his cleats and shoulder pads for a pair of running shoes and orange shoelaces on Sunday, March 30 as he partners with global financial services leader ING and the "Run for Something Better" program during the 2008 ING Georgia Marathon and Half Marathon.

Brooking, who plays for the Atlanta Falcons, is no stranger to running and physical fitness. He is one of only a few NFL athletes to play his entire career -- from Pee Wee league to the pros -- in his home state. During his career, he has led the Falcons in total tackles for six consecutive seasons. Brooking is the only player on Atlanta's current roster who played on the Falcons' 1998 Super Bowl team.

Brooking is also extremely active in the Atlanta community. His Keith Brooking Children's Foundation, a non-profit organization, is committed to serving foster children and the agencies that support them in the metro Atlanta area. By joining forces with ING, he hopes to encourage more Atlanta- area youth to fight childhood obesity and get active as part of the national ING Run for Something Better program.

"As a professional athlete, I firmly believe that leading a healthy lifestyle and staying in shape as a child will lead to a long, healthy life," said Brooking. "By participating in the ING Run for Something Better, I hope to encourage thousands of children in the metro Atlanta area to embrace physical activity and work towards setting their own personal fitness goals."

In the U.S., childhood obesity has become a serious health epidemic. Educating kids about the importance of living an active and healthy life is the cornerstone of the ING Run for Something Better program. Since 2003, the youth running program has successfully engaged thousands of children, parents and teachers in ci
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