The inaugural UnitedHealthcare Ironkids New Orleans raced around the South Shore Marina Saturday.

April Golenor, president, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Louisiana, and mascot “Dr. Health E. Hound” helped kick-off the 1-mile course aimed to help stem the rising tide of childhood obesity through exercise and healthy lifestyles.

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The UnitedHealthcare Ironkids 2014 Running Series features nine one-mile fun-runs and a dip-and-dash in 10 states. Saturday’s Fun Run was $15/person, and included close to 75 young “triathletes to be”, ages 3 to 15.

Children from low-income and low-education households are three-times more likely to suffer from obesity, which is a leading risk factor for diabetes, heart disease and many cancers, according to America’s Health Rankings, an annual assessment of the nation’s health on a state-by-state basis.

UnitedHealthcare and Ironkids provided 100 complimentary registrations to the Boys and Girls Club of New Orleans, and also made a $3000 donation to the organization to support youth health programs.

Photos courtesy: UnitedHealthcare / Cheryl Gerber