Governor Deval L. Patrick Declares Monday, April 9, 2007 "Run For Good Day" In The Commonwealth LEXINGTON, Mass., April 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- At a time when childhood obesity is rising at an alarming rate, children are now facing one of the most important challenges of their lives: embracing a fit lifestyle that will provide the foundation for a healthy future. The Saucony Run For Good(TM) Foundation (http://www.sauconyrunforgood.com/) joined Governor Deval Patrick in tackling this issue head on as he proclaimed Monday, April 9, 2007 as "Run For Good Day" in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. To mark the occasion, Lieutenant Governor Timothy P. Murray joined the Saucony Run For Good Foundation as they presented a $10,000 Saucony Run For Good grant to the locally-based DMSE Children's Fitness Foundation's TREK USA East Coast Relay (http://www.trekrelay.org/) at the Massachusetts State House. Millions of U.S. youngsters are overweight and an estimated 17 percent are obese (Centers For Disease Control and Prevention). According to the Massachusetts Public Health Association, 29 percent of Bay State children are overweight or obese, and their rate of obesity has more than doubled in the past two decades. Even more alarmingly, overweight children and adolescents have an approximately 70 percent chance of becoming overweight adults (American Heart Association). "The future of the Commonwealth lies within our youngsters. The work of the Saucony Run For Good Foundation reflects the state's commitment to encourage kids to get moving and stay fit," said Lieutenant Governor Timothy P. Murray, who delivered the "Run For Good Day" proclamation at the event. "Increased physical activity is paramount to stemming the tide of childhood obesity in Massachusetts' children and youth". The Saucony Run For Good Foundation was created to address the growing epidemic of childhood obesity by offering financial support to nonprofit organizations that initiate and support running and fitness programs for children. "As a company by and for runners, we are committed to helping organizations like Dave McGillivray's Massachusetts-based TREK USA East Coast Relay that so closely identifies with our Foundation's mission," said Richie Woodworth, president of Saucony and the Saucony Run For Good Foundation Board of Directors. "We know we can't solve the epidemic that impacts children, both here in the Commonwealth and across the nation, on our own. The Saucony Run For Good Foundation hopes that our grants will make a difference for these programs and the children that they serve, and will help reverse the alarming trend of childhood obesity." On April 18, 2007, TREK USA East Coast Relay will begin a 1,568 mile relay run from Boston, MA to Florida to raise funds for the DMSE Children's Fitness Foundation. The DMSE Foundation, founded by Boston Marathon Race Director Dave McGillivray, works to promote youth fitness and supports programs that address the rise in child obesity and diabetes. The TREK School Program involves thousands of children throughout New England and from across the country. "The DMSE Children's Fitness Foundation was born out of Dave McGillivray's life-long commitment to promoting physical fitness for our nation's youth," said DMSE Foundation Managing Director Billy Sheehan, who is also a TREK relay runner. "TREK USA events are an opportunity to showcase healthy role models for our children, and a nationwide invitation to support our position that a future of obesity, diabetes, cancer and heart disease for America's children is unacceptable." On hand to celebrate the Saucony Run For Good grant presentation were students from the Dennis C. Haley Elementary School of Roslindale, Massachusetts. The school will be piloting a fitness grant program supported by the DMSE Children's Fitness Foundation next fall. Fitness tips that local community groups, parents and kids can follow to help them in averting or overcoming childhood obesity can be found on the Saucony Run For Good website at http://www.sauconyrunforgood.com/. In addition, consumers can help raise funds for the Saucony Run For Good Foundation, and generate awareness in the fight against childhood obesity, by purchasing a pair of Saucony Run For Good signature Red Laces at the John Hancock Sports & Fitness Expo at the Hynes Convention Center on Boylston Street, Boston, on April 13th-15th, and at all Marathon Sports retail locations in Massachusetts. About Saucony, Inc. Saucony, Inc., a subsidiary of The Stride Rite Corporation, is a leading global supplier of performance athletic footwear and apparel with its widely recognized brands Saucony, Saucony Originals and Spot-bilt. For more information, go to http://www.saucony.com/. About Stride Rite Headquartered in Lexington, MA, The Stride Rite Corporation is an NYSE company (SRR) with 2006 net sales of $706 million. Stride Rite markets the leading brand of high-quality lifestyle and athletic shoes for children and adults that are marketed by the Company under well-known brand names, including Keds, PRO-Keds, Sperry Top-Sider, Robeez, Tommy Hilfiger, Saucony, Grasshoppers, Munchkin and Spot-bilt. Apparel products are marketed by the Company under the Saucony and Hind brand names. Information about the Company is available at http://www.strideritecorp.com/. Information about the Company's brands and product lines is available at http://www.striderite.com/, http://www.keds.com/, http://www.saucony.com/, http://www.sperrytopsider.com/, and http://www.hind.com/. DATASOURCE: Saucony Run For Good(TM) Foundation CONTACT: Erin Vadala of Warner Communications for Saucony Run For Good(TM) Foundation, +1-978-468-3076, +1-617-669-1560, Web Site: http://www.sauconyrunforgood.com/ http://www.trekrelay.org/

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