28th Annual Father's Day 5K & 1 Mile Fun Walk

Funds raised support more than 400 critically ill and premature babies cared for this year in the GBMC Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

GBMC HealthCare, Inc., today announced its successful annual fundraising event, the Father’s Day 5K & 1 Mile Fun Walk, will return for its 28th year on Sunday, June 19, 2016 at the GBMC campus in Towson, Md.




This year’s event will again feature a Wellness Village, open to not only race participants, but the entire community. The Wellness Village will be open from 7 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. in the South Chapman parking lot and will include health-related vendors. Additionally, MIX 106.5 Radio will be on-site with its Friends and Neighbors van playing music and sharing prizes. The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore will also be present with fun animal friends for the kids’ area.




The Father’s Day 5K will also have a special group of participants this year, patients from GBMC’s Comprehensive Obesity Management Program (COMP). COMP patients and their supporters have been participating in workout sessions since January in preparation for the Father’s Day 5K. The COMPto5K initiative is a six-month project, designed to support and encourage COMP patients to incorporate exercise in their weight loss via a 5K training process.




The annual event, presented by the GBMC Volunteer Auxiliary, has raised more than $1.75 million for GBMC’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) over the past 27 years and offers GBMC employees, volunteers and the general public an opportunity to support the more than 400 critically ill and premature babies treated this year. These fragile babies are cared for by hospital staff specializing in newborn care, and require equipment designed just for them. All proceeds from the event will benefit the GBMC NICU to help support specialized equipment, quality facilities and experienced clinical staff.




In 2015, the 5K raised a record $170,000 for the NICU and GBMC HealthCare is hoping to surpass that number this year. With 12 rooms in the NICU, there is always equipment that needs updating, new technologies to incorporate and resources critical for these more fragile babies, who require 24/7 care.




"Though we never wish for babies to need our NICU services, GBMC is honored to be able to provide the care that we would want for our loved ones and to each and every infant at a very difficult time in their lives," said Dr. John Chessare, M.D., President and CEO of GBMC HealthCare. "We need the help and support of our community members, and the hard work of our dedicated staff and volunteers, to continue to provide this care.”




The race will start at 8 a.m. on the GBMC campus at the South Chapman Building. Pre-race registration is available online at $30 until June 16. The price will increase to $35 until June 18 and walk-up registration is available on-site at $40 on race day. Interested participants can also register in-person at any of the Father’s Day 5K packet pick-ups on Fri., June 17 or Sat., June 18 at Charm City Run Timonium.




All participants will receive a free performance T-shirt, and awards will be presented to top finishers post-race. Corporate sponsorships are available and participants will have the opportunity to fundraise as an individual or as a team. Prizes are available for top fundraisers, along with the top father/son, the top father/daughter teams, the first male/ female GBMC employee and the first male/female GBMC NICU employee.




To register, start a team, join a team or to pledge, visit www.GBMC.org/5K. For more information about the race, sponsorships or volunteering for this event, please contact GBMC Philanthropy at 443-849-2773.




Event sponsors include: Brick Bodies; Travelstead Transportation Group and Monument Sotheby’s International Realty, The Lowell and Harriet Glazer Foundation, Jerry's Toyota, Pollard's Towing, 1919 Investments Counsel, PNC Bank, Eastern Savings Bank.




CONTACT


Shannon Baumler


GBMC Foundation


443-849-3766


sbaumler@gbmc.org