Nike’s mission is to “bring Inspiration and Innovation to every athlete* in the world. And if you have a body, you’re an athlete. In that spirit, think about using sport as a way to get healthy and connect in your communities. Nike is doing that globally on a large scale as part of our Let Me Play (LMP) effort. LMP is part of Nike’s long-term commitment giving access to the benefits of sport to all young people. Nike believes sport is a catalyst for positive change in young people and the communities in which they live.
We know everyone is pressed for time, so how can you get more active and bring more sport into your life? Here are seven ideas to help yourself and your community:
1) You know what’s so great about the community you live in? Oftentimes there’s already an infrastructure in place to support a healthy lifestyle! Visit your local YMCA for listings of sporting events or exercise classes that you can join. Many cities even host weekend events like bike rides or 10Ks. In the US, check out the Niketown 5k for a race near you. The race was just recognized as the Youth program of the year.
2) Nike+ has brought play to the global level. Try joining nikeplus.com. You’ll be welcomed into a virtual community of runners who participate at all skill levels and for a variety of reasons. With Nike+, you can challenge friends and strangers to compete and you can set goals. Nike+ is more than just an individual program, it supports runners by providing motivational tools and it encourages people to get moving by playing host to events like the Nike Women's Marathon.
3) Donate your old sport shoes so that they can be recycled into Nike Grind. Nike Grind was used in the resurfacing of five New Orleans Basketball Courts through the Let Me Play program. By donating your warn-out shoes you’re helping to provide opportunities for others to play.
4) Join a gym. In many regions Nike either has facilities on campus or provides discounted memberships to local area gyms. Take advantage of it and start playing!
5) Take part in the 2008 Earth Hour on March 29th. For one hour the world will turn off its lights. Go for a run with your friends; play outside with your kids. Either way, the computer is off and you can finally tune out in order to tune in to your body’s need to get moving.
6) Whether you’re looking for some serious play time or a casual social event, joining a community sport league can be a great way to get active. You can even spread your heart-healthy behavior by signing up with friends or getting co-workers to form their own team.
7) Nike’s Let Me Play program recognizes the need for sport and physical activity in the development of youth. You can be proactive about helping underprivileged children in your community by volunteering at a local Boys & Girls Club or becoming a self-starter by bringing Let Me Play into your neighborhood.