Greensboro, NC -- A Reidsville couple has heard all the stories about childhood obesity and they decided to make changes for children, beginning with those in their own neighborhood.

Three years ago, Jen and Brad Hawkins had only two children train with them for a Triathalon.

The next year, there were 7 and this year there were 22.  The youngsters have been training twice a week since July for Sunday's event, which included cycling, swimming and running.

Jen told News 2: " I think childhood obesity is an epidemic right now and I think it's really important as parents to get out and encourage your child to be active...whether it's a sport that they like or something like this which is cross training for them. The most important thing on top of being active is that they start something  train for it and they accomplish and finish. That's the bioggest thing we've pushed this year."

That was good enough for Christie Dalton who had two sons in the competition.  This is the second year for her oldest, Andrew, but a first for 9-year-old Jackson.

"Jackson is a special case. He does not like competition and so he knew starting that he'd probably be the last one to cross the finish line. But he still stuck with it and everybody has been so good and cheered him on.  I couldn't be more proud."

Jackson was the last to cross the finish line, but you wouldn't have known it from the crowd.  He says he had just one thing on his mind:

"I was just thinking I gotta finish, I gotta finish."

All 22 triathletes did finish and showed what a neighborhood can do, when like minds combat a national problem.