Marty the Marathon Bear

This is a simple story about a sincere bear with an unselfish desire to help people understand the value of healthy living. It begins with Marty depressed because his friends tease him about his excess weight. The despair only makes him eat more. Marty's self-image deteriorates & the teasing gets worse. Then Marty discovers a marathon & he's fascinated by the participants' energy, commitment & positive self-image. At the marathon he meets Johnny, one of the younger runners, & they become immediate friends. In fact, it's Marty's cheering that encourages Johnny to finish the gruelling event. As their friendship grows, Marty overcomes his personal depression, begins to like himself, & begins to understand the body's need for physical fitness & healthy living. Finally, Marty must face his old self in his own marathon. He decides not to quit but to fulfill his burning desire to complete the race. He becomes MARTY THE MARATHON BEAR!! Now Marty has a regular physical fitness routine! Exercise & good nutrition helped Marty develop a positive self-image. Now he wants to share that with others, especially young people.Wood, Bill is the author of 'Marty the Marathon Bear', published 1988 under ISBN 9780317933765 and ISBN 0317933760.