CentraCare Health Takes Lead Role in Earth Day Run

St. Cloud, Minn. – CentraCare Health will assume leadership of the Earth Day Run events beginning in 2016. The popular event will take place April 15-16 on the St. Cloud State University campus.

“We’ve watched this event transform over the past 17 years from a small gathering of runners to a premier race in Central Minnesota,” said Jodi Gertken, director of Wellness for CentraCare Health. “Our vision is to build upon this foundation set by St. Cloud State and make it CentraCare’s flagship event for community health and wellness. We already have an excellent reputation of caring for the sick. This event will showcase our equally strong commitment to partnering with the community to improve health.”

Under the race direction of Bartt Gevens, the event will continue to feature a half marathon, half marathon relay, 5K run/walk and 1K kid’s run. Gevens has overseen the event for the past six years. “With renewed energy and focus, we plan to grow Earth Day into a destination event for all ages and abilities,” said Gevens.

CentraCare Health is committed to taking a lead role in bringing wellness activities like the Earth Day Run to Central Minnesota, as it works toward making the healthy choice, the easy choice for people everywhere, everyday. Growing participation in Earth Day Run events was a vision of Todd Steinke, the former vice president of Philanthropy and Community Health for the CentraCare Health Foundation, who passed away unexpectedly this past summer.

Registration for Earth Day 2016 is now open on runearthday.com.