2nd National Minority Health Month 5K in the Books
Participants in the 5K warm up before stepping off.
Photo: Reno Holloway
NIMHD director Dr. Eliseo Pérez-Stable revs up the crowd.
Photo: Reno Holloway
“Superman” strikes a victorious pose during the event.
Photo: Reno Holloway
Pedestrians crossing, indeed. Enthusiastic staffers cheer on the walkers and runners on the lawn in front of Bldg. 1. Motivational signs and IC-sponsored water stations along the route around campus also kept participants encouraged.
Photo: Reno Holloway
Supporting cast. “Ethletes” Brian Boykins and Holly Beckerman Jaffe, both of the NIH Ethics Office, lend their legs to support the run/walk.
Photo: Reno Holloway
NIH Exec Sec staffers (from l) Shannon Wooldridge, Michelle Whitfield, Emma Di Mantova and Lisa Hurlebaus Marshall make it 2 years in a row.
Photo: Reno Holloway
New this year for Minority Health Month, a satellite walk (& roll!) gets under way around the Rockledge Bldg.
Photo: Reno Holloway
On a cloudy, brisk day in April, NIH staff, contractors and friends gathered on the lawn in front of Bldg. 1 to participate in the 2nd Minority Health 5K Walk/Run.
Hosted by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, along with the NIH Office of Research Services and the Recreation and Welfare Association’s Fitness and Well-Being Program, the event was part of 2018 National Minority Health Month activities. The month is a time to raise awareness of health disparities and health equity topics in America.
With nearly 400 registered participants, the 5K began promptly at 11:30 a.m. with brief remarks from NIMHD director Dr. Eliseo Pérez-Stable.
A self-proclaimed former couch potato, Pérez-Stable encouraged everyone to be active while explaining the goals of the 5K.
“We are here today not only to walk or run,” he said, “but to help us continue to make progress towards health equity.”
This year, for the first time, five NIH institutes and centers supported the event by sponsoring water stations. Their cheers, encouragement and motivational signs helped the runners and walkers get to the finish line.
After the race, there was a food truck and a variety of desserts available for purchase. Another first for 2018 was a satellite walk around the Rockledge Bldg., sponsored by NICHD’s Worklife Enrichment.
Watch the 2018 Minority Health 5K video to see all the action on the NIMHD YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqTTK11kcQ0.—Shelly Pollard