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By Garrett Christensen on Friday, January 10th, 2025 in Northeastern Oregon News Northeastern Oregon Top Stories
UNION COUNTY – Exercise isn’t always about keeping the body in shape (though that is a massive part of it), but also the mind. For kids especially, staying active and having a fitness goal, even a simple one, can be a massive boon to mental health as much as physical. Thankfully, two local organizations, Mountain Valley Fitness and Health and La Grande SoleKIDS, are doing what they can to help Union County youth stay physically active and mentally healthy.
After the successful completion of Mountain Valley's 2024 5k Turkey Trot, which attracted 163 participants of different age groups, a generous donation of $2,400 has been made to SoleKIDS La Grande. This contribution will aid SoleKIDS in organizing their own annual 5k run for local youth, ensuring that the program remains accessible to everyone. Katie Merrick, the area director for SoleKIDS and the head coach for the Island City Elementary team (shown below receiving the check from Mountain Valley’s Austin Gerding), elaborated on the impact of this support:
“To ensure that the program remains accessible for the children of La Grande, we have set our registration fees below the actual expenses of running the program. Therefore, the registration fee is set at forty-five dollars.”
SoleKIDS is an after-school running initiative designed for elementary school children, lasting eight weeks and concluding with a 5k race each season. The program features a variety of activities, including educational lessons, fun games, and ample running sessions to prepare the kids for their major race. Established in 2017 by Jonathan and Jamie Stevens in Boise, SoleKIDS has rapidly expanded throughout the Treasure Valley region of Idaho and has recently begun to reach areas in Oregon and Washington.
SoleKIDS La Grande was established in 2022 when Katie and a group of community members aimed to set up a local youth running program. Having some prior knowledge of SoleKIDS through her nephews' involvement in Boise, she decided to contact the Stevens to present the concept. As Katie describes it:
“Jonathan and Jamie not only agreed to help, but they were also incredibly enthusiastic about assisting us in getting started. They have continued to provide support in managing the nonprofit and handling all the administrative tasks, allowing me to focus on other aspects. Since I initially contacted Jonathan, I became the primary liaison with the Boise SoleKIDs, and my responsibilities grew significantly from that point onward.”
Ashley Close, a key local figure in the early engagement with SoleKIDS, continues to play a significant role in SoleKIDS La Grande. The program is presently available to elementary students at Central Elementary School, Island City Elementary School, Greenwood Elementary School, and, most recently, Imbler Elementary School. While it operates in collaboration with the school districts, SoleKIDS is independently managed and relies solely on volunteers. Additional schools are typically added when there is enough interest and a sufficient number of volunteers. Katie elaborates on this:
"Based on our experiences, we have found that the maximum number of kids we can effectively manage at one time is 50. To ensure safety and proper supervision, each practice needs at least 10 adults present. If there are communities in the Grand Ronde Valley, such as Imbler this past fall, that show interest in the program and have a dedicated coach along with adequate adult involvement, we will do our utmost to facilitate the opportunity for them to provide SoleKIDS to their children."
With that in mind, SoleKIDS is open to participants beyond just individual districts, even though it is structured around them. Children from various schools or those who are homeschooled are encouraged to sign up, provided they can attend practices at one of the schools involved in the program.
The latest SoleKIDS 5k race took place on October 19, 2024, attracting 133 enthusiastic runners and close to 60 dedicated volunteers. Organizing the race is no small feat. Each child is partnered with a buddy runner who supports them throughout the event, while family members gather at the starting line to cheer everyone on. A professional photographer and DJ are on hand to capture the excitement, and volunteers are stationed at every turn of the course to direct the kids and offer encouragement along the way. As Katie expressed, “Race day is the best day!”
Regarding the inception of the collaboration with Mountain Valley, Katie shared that her parents were treated by Rachel Delevue in 2022. Rachel was a physical therapist at Mountain Valley and served as the coordinator for the Turkey Trot during that period. Excited about SoleKIDS' upcoming expansion into La Grande, Katie’s parents eagerly communicated this news, leading to a swift partnership between the two initiatives. Since then, Mountain Valley and their Turkey Trot have consistently supported the La Grande SoleKIDS program.
This backing has enabled the program to consistently offer a range of treats and benefits for the children. Each participant is given a water bottle, a swag bag, a Sport Tech t-shirt, and nutritious snacks at every practice session. Additionally, during the 5K event, participants are awarded finisher medals, with trophies presented to the top performers. Assistance from organizations such as Mountain Valley is essential for maintaining the race's enjoyable atmosphere and ensuring that entry fees remain affordable.
Beyond the benefits, SoleKIDS is fundamentally focused on the children, encouraging them to remain active while fostering a sense of achievement. Regardless of whether the kids are natural athletes or complete novices, SoleKIDS provides a special chance for them to engage in enjoyable, healthy, and fulfilling activities. This sentiment is echoed by Katie as she shares her excitement about the experience of race day:
"Seeing these kids participate in the race and finally cross the finish line is immensely fulfilling. Some of them seem to have an innate talent for running, and we get to cheer for their fantastic race times. However, for the majority, running presents a significant challenge, demanding all their effort just to complete the race. Witnessing those kids finish, fully aware of the dedication and hard work they've put in over the past eight weeks, truly stands out as the highlight of the season."
For anyone interested in getting involved in SoleKIDS La Grande, their website offers links for volunteering and donations along with contact information for expanding the program to a new school. Katie Merrick can also be contacted at [email protected] to discuss donation for the program or bringing SoleKIDS to a different school in Union County.
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(Photo of SoleKids 5k captured by Jessica Baum from Baum Studios. Used with consent.)
