As the sunlight began to take the fall chill off the morning of October 23, 69 people gathered in the west parking lot of the Bryan Community Hospital and Wellness Center (CHWC) to participate in the Run for Your Heart 5K event. Sponsored by CHWC and the Williams County YMCA, the 5K run was far from the only event falling under the Run for Your Heart moniker.
Cardiologist Dr. Jodi Tinkel addressed those in attendance to not just encourage and educate the attendees, but also to congratulate them for the choice that they made to participate. With the theme obviously centering around heart health, Dr. Tinkel pointed out several facts about the benefits of the exercise in which everyone was about to partake. “Exercise promotes health,” she said. “We know that a lack of exercise leads to heart attacks, which we deal with…also strokes, obesity, diabetes, and osteoporosis. There were over five million deaths last year due to inactivity.” “The main focus is to get everyone out, and get them active,” said Heather Jones, the Senior Program Director of the Williams County YMCA. “We want them to be aware of heart health, and make them aware that we have a YMCA here to help with that, along with the hospital and Dr. Tinkel.”
First off the starting line were the youngest of the crowd, the nine kids that took part in the fun run. As evidenced by the participation of 4 1/2 year old runner Harley Paul of Fayette, youth does not preclude one from getting out and having fun while exercising.
After their return, the remaining sixty participants lined up at the starting line in Central Drive. Not all of these participants were there to run, as many chose to get involved by walking the route.
The event still had more to offer the kids, as Bryan Mayor Doug Johnson and Chief of Police Mike Willis arrived to judge a Halloween costume contest. Entrants arrived in costumes ranging from ‘industry standard’ to bizarre, but all with the same purpose of having fun…which, regardless of the event, was the rule of the day.
Timothy Kays can be reached at tim@thevillagereporter.com