Heywood Healthcare Hosts Annual 'Healthy Harvest 5K', Raise Funds for Mental Health Initiatives

GARDNER, Mass. - Nov. 9, 2016 - PRLog -- Nearly 150 area runners and walkers participated in the 4th Annual Heywood Healthcare Healthy Harvest 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, November 5th.

The three mile family-friendly course started and ended at Heywood Hospital and was targeted to all fitness levels. Adults had the option to walk or run the course, and kids (up to age 7) competed in our special one mile youth run (ages 8-10) and Story Book Tour. Attendees also had the opportunity to test their skills in the Fitness Challenge.

Organizations connected to local health initiatives participated in the event, handing out brochures and providing information on health topics, such as peer recovery, how to talk to teens concerning alcohol and drugs, and how to care for elders who need more services.

Participating organizations included the Girls on the Run, the Clark YMCA, Heywood LIFE Center, AED Foundation, LUK, Inc., SHINE, CHART (school-based care connection program provided by Heywood Healthcare), Montachusett Suicide Prevention Task Force, G-Vegas Striders and the Garder Rotary.

Students from the Monty Tech ROTC helped to direct foot and motor traffic and the G-Vegas Striders helped to direct and call the race.

First-place male overall winner was Robert Cruz and top female finisher was Caitlin Difava.

Other top runners in each category were: under-20 male winner was Anthony Collins; 20-29 male was Ed Zink; 30-39 male was Jonathan Miganowicz, 40-49 male was Gary Dilling; 50-59 male was Pete Stoll; 60-and-over male was Gary Campbell; under-20 female was Kylie Robles; 20-29 female was Nicole Zarba; 30-39 female was Meredith Morris; 40-49 female was Elizabeth Bond; 50-59 female was Susan O'Brien; and 60-and-over female was Kris Dorsey.

The Heywood Healthy Harvest 5K has been supported by local businesses since its inception. This year's Presenting Sponsors included Baldwinville Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Coverys, Fallon Healthcare, HUB International Limited, Gardner Rehab and Nursing Center and SHINE.

Our Gold Sponsor for 2016 was the Nottleson Family and Andrew Boucher, Athol-Orange Rotary Club, the Clark YMCA, Jim and Asta Kraskouskas, L.S. Starrett, Mallet Rubbish and Recycling, Pathways for Change, Plantscape Services, LLC, River Terrace Rehabilitation and Healthcare and W.J. Graves Construction Co., Inc. all signed on at the Silver level.

Coleman Assembly and Packaging, Empire Engineering, Co., Inc., GAAMHA, Inc., Gardner Ale House, The Gardner News, GVNA Healthcare and Unitil participated at the Bronze level.

Dawn Casavant, Heywood Healthcare Vice President of External Affairs and Chief Philanthropy Officer stated to participants: "Because of each and every one of you, today's race grossed over $14,000 to help us continue our community-based mental health and suicide prevention efforts, to include leadership of the Suicide Prevention Task Force, the Regional Behavioral Health Collaborative, and a variety of school and community-based education and care coordination services."

For more information on these initiatives, please contact the Heywood Healthcare Philanthropy Office at (978) 630-6431.

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About Athol Hospital
A member of the Heywood Healthcare system, Athol Hospital is a 25-bed non-profit, acute care and outpatient facility serving the communities of the North Quabbin region of Massachusetts. Athol Hospital's services include 24/7 Emergency Care, Oncology, Radiology and Laboratory, Diabetes Center and Center for Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation. It is designated as a Critical Access Hospital and Primary Stroke Center, licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and accredited by the Joint Commission.

About Heywood Hospital
A member of the Heywood Healthcare system, Heywood Hospital is a 134-bed acute care hospital in Gardner, MA, which provides a broad range of high quality medical, surgical, obstetrical, pediatric and behavioral health services on an inpatient and outpatient basis. The hospital's Centers of Excellence include the Watkins Center for Emergency and Acute Care; the LaChance Maternity Center; the Diabetes Center; and the Heywood Heart and Vascular Center, an affiliate of the Heart and Vascular Center of Excellence at UMass Memorial Health Care.

About Heywood Healthcare
Heywood Healthcare is an independent, community-owned healthcare system serving north central Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire. It is comprised of Heywood Hospital, a non-profit, 134-bed acute-care hospital in Gardner, MA; Athol Hospital, a 25-bed not-for-profit, Critical Access Hospital in Athol, MA; Heywood Medical Group with primary care physicians and specialists located throughout the region. The organization includes six satellite facilities in MA; Heywood Rehabilitation Center and Heywood Urgent Care in Gardner; West River Health Center in Orange; Winchendon Health Center and Murdock School-based Health Center in Winchendon; Heywood Charitable Foundation; the North Quabbin Community Coalition, an affiliate organization; and upcoming in 2017, The Quabbin Retreat in Petersham.