Run to support fitness, wellness activitiesby Cindy AbolePublic Relations Tri-county walkers and runners of all levels can help celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Harper Student Wellness by participating in the MUSC 2-Mile Wellness Run and Walk Sept. 20. The walk/run event begins at the Harper Student Wellness Center and extends around MUSC’s campus and surrounding neighborhoods, and finishes on Courtenay Drive near Ashley River Tower. The wellness run/walk is sanctioned as a United States of America Track & Field (USTAF) certified event and has been entered on the America’s Running Routes searchable database of running routes across the country. MUSC students, faculty, staff and everyone in the Lowcountry are encouraged to participate. Registration includes a one-week membership to the Harper Student Wellness Center (a $30 value). In addition, an event expo located at the wellness center, will be opened from 8 a.m. to noon. It will feature educational booths representing community businesses, MUSC-specific programs, including MUSC Boot Camp and Charleston Healthy Challenge. Live music will be performed and Earth Fare Market & Cafe will cater the event. “Offering an event of this scale to the community fits our program’s mission for wellness and our fitness spectrum,” said Bobby Shaw, Harper Student Wellness Center director. “This event offers a fun, unique distance that can be that first step to people meeting their fitness goals. We’ve got a lot of experience in organizing and managing an event such as this. We hope the Tri-county community comes out and supports this effort and our focus to promote healthier, active lifestyles and hope this event continues to grow each year.” Proceeds from this event will be used to continue supporting fitness programs, new equipment and other community wellness activities sponsored by the Harper Student Wellness Center, according to Shaw. “Budgets are tight in this challenging economic period. Sponsoring this fundraiser is one way we can continue to provide our students, wellness center members and community with more quality wellness programs and preventive activities that can contribute to our Tri-county community,” said Shaw. The upcoming run/walk is not the first time a fitness event on this scale has been sponsored by the center. Prior to the facility’s opening in 1988, a run event in 1986 was coordinated through the wellness center and was sponsored by the Department of Pulmonary Medicine. The event was designed to promote health and physical activity for wellness center members and others in the community. Later, it was replaced with the so-called lung run. Sponsors for this event include the presenting sponsor Atlantic Bank & Trust, Merrill Lynch; along with Try Sports, Earth Fare Market & Café, Ink & Cloth graphics, Sun Sign and Aquafina. Wellness run/walk registration deadlines are: early (before Sept. 10), $20 or late (after Sept. 10), $25. Prize certificates will be presented in 16 categories and age groups. MUSC students and staff can receive a $5 discount (bring your MUSC ID to the event). Early packet pick-up will be held at the Wellness Center, Sept. 18-19; 3-7 p.m., Sept. 18 and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sept. 19. Checks should be made payable to MUSC and mailed to the MUSC Harper Student Wellness Center, P.O. Box 250976, Charleston, S.C. 29425. Register online at http://www.musc.edu/hsc or to participate in the Wellness Run/Walk Expo contact Shaw at 792-2533. Friday, Aug. 22,, 2008 |
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