 DALTON – When Amanda Reed Myers, the president and CEO of Live4It Community, thinks about longtime Dalton physician Bill Gregory, she appreciates his many efforts in “spreading awareness for health and wellness.” That was one of the reasons Live4It Community, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) focused on “changing the trajectory of health and wellness” in the community, partnered with Hamilton Health Care System’s Bradley Wellness Center to once again organize this year’s Bill Gregory Health Care Classic, which takes place on Saturday, April 27. This is the 41st year of the Classic, which features participants in 10K, 5K or 2K events throughout parts of Dalton. This year’s race seeks to shine a spotlight on “healthy lifestyles and environments,” Myers said. “It is a great cornerstone race and one of the largest community races in Dalton,” Myers said. “Last year was our first year partnering with Bradley Wellness Center. They’ve been doing it for several years. In fact, Hamilton goes back all the way to the inception of the race. They first had individuals who started that race and over the last 40 or so years it’s kind of grown and developed. Live4It Community is proud to carry it for- ward alongside Bradley Wellness Center.” Gregory, who was a physician with Hamilton Health Care System, tragically died in 2006 after a bicycling accident. Simply known as the Health Care Classic in earlier years, the race’s name was changed in 2007 to honor him. Myers said one of Live4It Community’s goals in organizing the race is to “meet people where they are.” That meant slightly adjusting the race route from previous years. For the 10K and 5K races, participants will begin on Broadrick Drive, just as they have in the past. “But this year, they will begin at the intersection of Broadrick and Jack Bandy (Way), which is the new road that runs between Royal Oaks (assisted living facility) and the Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) on Hamilton’s campus,” Myers said. Participants will then run or walk to Elkwood Drive, through the Royal Oaks parking lot and then back onto Broadrick Drive toward West Waugh Street before heading east toward Jones Street. “It’s still similar to the past, with the exception of us moving the starting line north and closer to the intersection of Jack Bandy and Broadrick,” Myers said. Another change will see both the 10K and 5K beginning simultaneously at 8:15 a.m. “We normally would start one race and then start the second one fifteen minutes later, but they’ll actually run together until they get to Jones (Street),” Myers said. “From there, all runners will split. The 10K runners will turn right onto Tyler Street, whereas the 5K runners will run to Cascade (Drive).” This year, the 2K race will be less of a challenge than previously, Myers said. “We live in a community with lots of hills and it’s a challenging course, including the 2K,” she said. “So, one of the takeaways from last year’s race was that for the folks who were really just getting started in their health journey and the 2K was their entrance into health and well- ness or into participating every year, those hills can be really hard on a beginner.” This year, the 2K, which begins at 10 a.m., will start at the intersection of Broadrick Drive and Memorial Drive. Participants will then head toward Jack Bandy Way, through the Royal Oaks parking lot, back up Broadrick and down to West Waugh Street before turning around and heading back to the finish line at the Hamilton ASC. “So, for the folks that are beginning their health journey and want to be part of the 2K, this year’s run is still not without its challenges and hills, but certainly a little bit easier than last year,” Myers said. Myers said the event will headline a “true community day of health.” “Everyone is welcome to come and join,” she said. “We want this to impact lifestyle and environment, so we love it when families, co-workers and friends come together.” Early registration is open and available at www.Live4ItCommunity.org until April 12 at $25, while regular registration will be open April 13-27 at $35. Those who preregister online will receive a special race T-shirt. Myers said a large part of the community-centric day, and of Live4It Community as a whole, revolves around “changing the culture.” “If we can change culture, lifestyle and environment when it comes to health and well- ness, then we believe we can have a huge impact on how long our community lives in the long run and how healthy we are,” she said. “That’s really the focus. Everyone wants to see friends, families, neighbors and co-workers live longer, healthier and happier lives.” Although it’s a one-day event, Myers hopes to see the race continue to blossom in the future. “I really want to see it as a springboard for conversations of what’s next for our community,” she said. “Having this race named after a gentleman who did so many good things and was just such a good representation of health and wellness helps show how great our medical community is. We are fortunate to have Hamilton Medical Center’s physicians here hosting the race along with us and I think this race is just a beacon of hope for what we’re trying to achieve and how we’re going to work together to do it.”  Comments are closed.
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