Health Sciences District Run announces UMKC Health Sciences District as presenting sponsor for 2018
Celebrating 45 years of history, HHR and UMKC continue to enhance and expand KC’s original running event
The Health Sciences District Run (HHR) announced today that the newly formed UMKC Health Sciences District will serve as the presenting sponsor for the 2018 Health Sciences District Run scheduled for Friday and Saturday, June 1 – 2.
HHR has a long history with many of the healthcare providers and facilities that comprise the new UMKC Health Sciences District. Partnership in the city’s oldest running event is a natural extension of those existing relationships. Participants will benefit from this expanded relationship as health providers will be working with HHR over the coming months to provide training tips, health and wellness information, and more leading up to the event. And as in years past, medical volunteers from Truman Medical Center, Children’s Mercy, and UMKC School of Medicine will be on site for the weekend’s events to address any medical needs.
“The UMKC Health Sciences District includes a dozen health institutions along the Health Sciences District Run race routes,” said Margaret Gibson, the event’s Medical Director. Gibson, an assistant professor for the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, is a physician affiliated with Children’s Mercy and Truman Medical Centersand the team physician for UMKC Athletics. “Both district partners and the run also share a long history of promoting health and wellness in our community, so it’s a strong, natural partnership.”
The UMKC Health Sciences District, formed in 2017, is a cooperative partnership of 12 neighboring health-care institutions on Health Sciences District: the University of Missouri-Kansas City and its School of Medicine,School of Nursing and Health Studies, School of Pharmacy and School of Dentistry; Truman Medical Centers; Children’s Mercy; Kansas City, Missouri Health Department; Missouri Department of Mental Health Center for Behavioral Medicine; Jackson County Medical Examiner;Diastole Scholars’ Center; and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City. The district collaborates on research, grants, community outreach and shared wellness for employees, faculty, students, and surrounding neighborhoods.
Now in its 45th year, HHR has hosted world class runners, Olympians, and over 170,000 athletes of all levels from across the globe. This new partnership ensures that HHR will continue to enhance its legacy as one of the premier endurance events in the United States. “The athletes who brave HHR know that there is great pride- and some pretty serious bragging rights- that come with crossing this marathon’s finish line,” said Charlie Shields, President and CEO of Truman Medical Centers. “At Truman Medical Centers, we are proud to be Kansas City’s essential hospital. We go the distance for our patients. And so it’s fitting for us to be part of this great tradition.”
“The Health Sciences District Run was founded by Dr. E. Grey Dimond, founder of the UMKC School of Medicine to promote health and fitness in Kansas City,” said Beth Salinger, Race Director of Health Sciences District Run. “This exciting partnership with the UMKC Health Sciences District will continue his vision of bringing health and wellness to the Kansas City Region.”
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About Health Sciences District Run
The Health Sciences District Run began in 1974 with 99 athletes paying a $1 registration fee to run a 6.8-mile course at Crown Center. Today, it has evolved into a weekend event that hosts thousands of athletes over two days and three different event distances. The 2018 event will be the 45th annual race and includes three distances: a 5K on Friday night, followed by a 7.7-mile and a half marathon on Saturday morning. Those who wish to challenge themselves further can compete in both the 5K on Friday night and either the 7.7-mile or half marathon on Saturday, called the Health Sciences District Run Re-RUN. All events begin and end on Grand Boulevard directly in front of Crown Center. A two-day health and fitness expo at the Crown Center Exhibit Hall, a Pasta Party, and two post-race parties open to all will round-out race weekend. In 2017 The Health Sciences District Run Foundation made a $25,000 donation to the Kansas City Police Action League, the 2018 donation will be announced soon.
About the UMKC Health Sciences District
The UMKC Health Sciences District is a cooperative partnership formed by 12 neighboring health care institutions on Health Sciences District: University of Missouri- Kansas City and its School of Medicine, School of Nursing and Health Studies, School of Pharmacy and School of Dentistry; Truman Medical Centers; Children’s Mercy; Kansas City, Missouri Health Department; Missouri Department of Mental Health Center for Behavioral Medicine; Jackson County Medical Examiner; Diastole Scholars’ Center; and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City. The premier academic health district engages in cutting-edge biomedical research and entrepreneurship, delivering state-of-the science health care and educating the next generation of health care professionals.