The St. Joseph’s Memorial foundation hosted a half-marathon, 10K and 5K run/walk Labor Day weekend. (Contributed photo)
The St. Joseph’s Labor Day half-marathon, 10K and 5K run/walk was “a runaway hit, raising more than $5,000 for the St. Joseph’s Memorial Foundation,” according to a press release prepared by Gundersen St. Joseph’s.
More than 160 participants took part in the event, coming from as far away as Holmen and Milwaukee. The event began with the half-marathon, in which 24 men and women ran 13.1 miles through Hillsboro and along the “400” State Trail. Later, the 10K and 5K began, with a mix of more than 100 walkers and runners.
Running a personal best, Cody Urban of Holmen came in first in the half-marathon, running the course in 1 hour, 19 minutes, and 33.9 seconds, according to the press release.
The fastest time in the 5K came from Mindy Waddell of Viola, who came in at 19 minutes, 26.6 seconds. John Rick of Hillsboro came first in the 10K, clocking in at 45 minutes 29.3 seconds.
The event also hosted a kids’ race coordinated by Carol Veldey, physical-therapy assistant at Gundersen St. Joseph’s Hospital and Clinics. Participants in the kids’ race were handed medals and free bike helmets courtesy of the Healthy Neighbors Coalition.
The funds raised from the event will be used as part of Gundersen St. Joseph’s emergency-transfer-bag program, according to the press release. Emergency transfer bags are given to the families of emergency patients who are transferred to larger facilities when a higher level of trauma care is required. These transfer bags include a range of essential items, such as toothpaste, toiletries, bottled water, gas cards and T-shirts.
“The transfer bags are the purest example of how we think here at Gundersen St. Joseph’s,” said Dan Howard, director of marketing at Gundersen St. Joseph’s. “We take care of others as if they were our own. Oftentimes, when individuals are transferred during an emergency, their family hasn’t brought anything with them. By providing some simple necessities, like an extra T-shirt to sleep in, a granola bar in case they haven’t eaten and an extra bottle of water, it makes things a little easier in what is often a disorienting situation.”
The event sponsors were Pro Blend Nutrition, Silent Sports Magazine, Farmers State Bank, Hawk High Dairy, Hillsboro Lions Club, Now 92.1fm, Smash Country, Hillsboro Drive-in, Hofmeister Insurance Agency, Peterson Pharmacy, Royal Bank, Seats, Inc., Rockton Bar, OSD Transport, Hillsboro Boy Scouts Troop 83, Hillsboro Area ATV/UTV Club, Hillsboro FBLA, Hillsboro County Market, Kwik Trip, Hotel Hillsboro, H.O.P.E., Danielle Gearhart, CEO, Gundersen St. Joseph’s and GoMacro.
Plans are already underway for next year’s event, which is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 1. Full results of this year’s race are available online at www.itsracetime.com.
