2017-10-24 Kansas Half Marathon/5k

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Beth Llewellyn, CEO
Jennifer Stucker, Director of Development and Communications/Race Director
Telephone: Health Care Access – 785.856.1672

10th Annual Kansas Half Marathon/5k will take place on Sunday, November 5 in Lawrence
Race benefits local safety net clinic

Monday, October 23, 2017 – The Kansas Half Marathon/5k, an event that is organized by Health Care Access, was created to raise funds for its mission to provide health care to those in Douglas County with limited financial means, no comprehensive health insurance and that otherwise do not have a primary care home.

In its 10th year, the race will take place on Sunday, November 5, 2017, at Watson Park. The half marathon begins at 7:30 a.m., with the 5k starting at 7:45 a.m. For more information or to register for the race you can visit www.kansashalfmarathon.com. Runners that are registered receive a t-shirt, sunflower medal and post-race food donated by HyVee.
“In a time of so much uncertainty around health care insurance, you can be certain of one thing, this race is our largest fundraising event to provide a primary care health home for the uninsured,” said Beth Llewellyn, CEO of HCA. “Bring your personal best and participate this year. We are going to order up good weather for runners, their support crew and volunteers.”

Volunteers for the Kansas Half Marathon/5k are still needed. To sign up, please contact us at info@healthcareaccess.org.
“This event has been fun to plan. It’s been great seeing all the registrations come in from all over the United States. It’s also wonderful to see how much support and love we get from our community and businesses,” said Jennifer Stucker, Director of Development and Communications for HCA and also the Race Director.
Stucker said the biggest change this year for the half marathon runners is not having them go out and back on the levee. “We got feedback from our runners last year and that was a key issue for them,” she said. “In order for us to build on this race, we need to continue to make improvements, and we believe this is a positive change.”

The Grand Marshall of this year’s race will be Don ‘Red Dog’ Gardner. Gardner is a local fitness celebrity in Lawrence who is passionate about keeping the community healthy. Gardner runs a fitness program called Red Dog’s Dog Days, a free fitness program open to all residents of the Lawrence community.

“I’m absolutely honored to be the Grand Marshall for the Kansas Half Marathon/5k. I started out my training programs for high school football and volleyball players, and it’s grown into a program the entire community can be involved in.” Gardner said. “Seeing people healthy and active keeps me motivated.”

Gardner says that his Dog Days workouts are not a one-man operation, it takes many people to lead workouts and keep the program going. Hopefully, Red Dog’s Dog Days continues to be a tradition in the Lawrence community for years to come.

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Health Care Access is a non-profit organization that serves as a welcoming health home in Douglas County for persons with limited financial means. HCA creates access to a continuum of community-based services to promote health and well-being. Through an active collaborative spirit we advocate for health people and communities.