Spring Into Health

March 8, 2019 Currents, Feature No comments

Embrace exercise and join the 5K race

By Lisa Stites

If you’re one of the many people who resolved to make this year a healthier one and are looking for ways to keep your resolutions, the Brunswick Wellness Coalition has an event just for you.

The Spring Into Health 5k/1 mile race on Saturday, March 23, is the perfect way to push through the winter blahs and bring on spring. The race steps off at Dosher Memorial Hospital in Southport. This event is not a fundraiser – it’s a way to encourage everyone in the community to embrace a healthier lifestyle, according to a release from the Coalition. Walking 30-60 minutes a day can have tremendous health benefits and this event is meant to demonstrate that anyone can stay active.

This race is open to all ages and levels of experience, and the cost to enter is only $10 before February 25, and $20 after that. Entry is free for children younger than 13. Participants are asked to donate at least one non-perishable healthy food item to help support the “Give Healthy” campaign. Food will be donated to the pantry at Brunswick Senior Resources, Inc. A list of items that qualify are listed on the race website at www.brunswickwellness.org/springintohealth. Participants may use this same link to register or volunteer for the event.

Last year’s race had 225 racers, following a route which meanders through downtown Southport.

Hamilton Realty Group and Omega Sports are race sponsors; Omega Sports is providing gift cards to the top three overall male/female race winners, best individual costume, best decorated stroller and best team costumes. Runners can wear any costume, but are encouraged to use a healthy food theme, maybe even dressing as a fruit or vegetable, according to Brunswick Wellness Coalition Executive Director Lindsay N. Maher, MPA.

The Brunswick Wellness Coalition, formed in 2017, is a united group of individuals and health-minded leaders with the mission to improve the health of our community, and the vision of becoming the healthiest county in North Carolina, according to a release from the Coalition. BWC is made possible by Healthy People, Healthy Carolinas, an initiative of The Duke Endowment, working with county-level coalitions across the state to improve health.