‘Grin and Bear it Run’ draws hundreds in Bend
The Grin and Bear It Run, presented by Good Teeth, Great Grins (a collaborative effort between Blue Fish Dental and Deschutes Pediatric Dentistry), jump-started the Bend running season in style Saturday with music, fun activities and fabulous prizes, not to mention three great running events.
This year’s event, a 5 & 10K run-walk, had nearly 200 participants. Marshall Greene placed first overall in the 10K men’s with a time of 35:26 and Kristen Yax placed first overall in the women’s 10K with a time of 42:33. In the 5K event, Charmion Freifeld placed first in the women’s with a time of 21:30 and Robbie Donohue won the men’s with a time of 16:34.
The complete race results are available on the Time 2 Race website at www.Time2Race.com. Runners on the 5 and 10 K course ranged in age from 4 to 74 years.
The 1 Mile Family Fun Run, presented by Bend Memorial Clinic Pediatrics, also enjoyed its fair share of participants with over 200 kids, parents, and even grandparents participating. And for many children (and even a few adults), this was a first-time event.
“The Grin & Bear It continues to be a great outreach and provided wonderful support for our services,” explained Holly Remer, the program’s executive director. Introducing the love of running to community members and families continues to be central to this event.
The corporate and team component was again a favorite, with Mosaic Medical, for a sixth year, receiving the award for the largest team in attendance.
“Outdoor competitive runs rely heavily on Volunteer support and Healthy Beginnings is fortunate to have such great volunteers involved in their fundraising efforts and screenings as well. Nearly 50 volunteers participated in today’s event,” reported Katie Grantier, who coordinated the volunteer effort. Volunteers came from Bend High School, OSU Cascades and community partner agencies.
This year’s event generated nearly $2,000 in prizes and awards and over $40,000 in sponsorships, in-kind support and run entries – dollars dedicated to supporting children and families in the community.
These proceeds will support three of the eighteen community screening clinics Healthy Beginnings offers throughout Central Oregon. The Grin & Bear It continues to be the largest fundraiser and friend-maker for Healthy Beginnings and has grown from a starting point of less than 100 runners in 2003.
“Thanks to such great support from volunteers and the community, this event continues to grow and improve every year as it provides an avenue to showcase the importance of early childhood screening and services “Family and community is at the heart of our program and certainly is central to the Grin and Bear It Run. Events like this continue to help us reach and serve more children in need,” explained Remer.
About Healthy Beginnings
Entering its 22nd year, Healthy Beginnings provides key services to young children, ensuring children are healthy, ready to succeed in school, and can develop to their full potential. Each year Healthy Beginnings holds 18 screenings throughout Central Oregon with the help of its hundreds of professional volunteers. During the free screenings, children birth through age five are offered a “12 point kid inspection” that assesses vision, dental, speech, infant & toddler development, concepts, hearing, social skills and behavior, health, nutrition, car seat safety, motor, and much more. The program also provides abbreviated preschool screenings as well. The screenings are not just designed for low income families, it’s a program designed for all families with young children. Improving access to health and educational services is fundamental to the program and Healthy Beginnings can even help with health insurance application coverage. Supported by community donations and fundraising efforts like the Grin and Bear It, all services are provided at no cost to the family. Call to learn more, 541.383.6357 or visit HB’s website www.myhb.org to make your child’s appointment, to donate or to volunteer.
