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Running the Chicago Marathon for Team LUNGevity!

Published on February 14, 2011 in Looking for teammates!, Uncategorized and Walks & Runs. 1 Comment Tags: .
I am very excited to announce that I will be running the Chicago Marathon in October for Team LUNGevity – to help increase awareness and fund research for lung cancer.  A disease that is seriously underfunded,  misunderstood – and even stigmatized.

About 6 years ago my dad  was diagnosed with advanced stage lung cancer, he never smoked. Our family was blindsided.  He lived for only 18 months after diagnoses.  Prior to his diagnosis he was an above average healthy and active man.  He was only 59 when he died.

I am here to advocate for better early detection methods and treatment options – so no one has to die from lung cancer.
I have set a goal to raise at least $1000 for this cause. And, I’m hoping you are willing to help support me in my efforts.  I would like to invite you to please take a moment to check out my personal fundraising page here:
The Statistics:
  • Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death, regardless of gender or ethnicity.
  • Lung cancer impacts one in 14 Americans and kills more than breast, prostate, colon, ovarian, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and melanoma cancers combined.
  • More Americans die each year of lung cancer than of colon, breast, pancreatic, and prostate cancers combined.
  • Lung cancer kills almost two times as many women as does breast cancer. Lung cancer kills more than three times as many men as does prostate cancer.
  • About 65% of all new lung cancer diagnoses are among people who have never smoked or are former smokers.
  • Lung cancer accounts for 15% of all new cancer diagnoses but 28% of all cancer deaths.

Source: LUNGevity Foundation

Time to get UP and get OUT!

Published on February 3, 2011 in Community-Building, Health & Human Service, Looking for teammates! and Walks & Runs. 1 Comment

Spring is coming and it’s time to make some plans to get OUTSIDE! Group Health is sponsoring a ton of events this spring – surely you can pick a few to join! Here’s a quick preview:

Beat the Bridge! One of our major sponsorships in 2011 is the  Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s Beat the Bridge event on May 15th. We’ll be the medical sponsor, have a marketing booth AND have several teams participating. Our own Debbie Huntington is serving as Event Chair this year. Yay Debbie!  If you want to participate (be a team captain, volunteer, join a team) click here!

March for Babies! Premature birth is the leading cause of newborn death and many lifelong disabilities. You can help the March of Dimes fight prematurity by taking steps in March for Babies! Join other Group Health staff members raising money and walking for this important cause. If you want to participate, click here!

Relay for Life! Has Cancer touched you or a loved one? Join your fellow Group Health staff members in raising money and walking at one of the various American Cancer Society Relay for Life events around the region. If you want to participate, click here!

Volunteer as a Running Buddy

Published on November 2, 2010 in Walks & Runs. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

Girls on the Run of Puget Sound is a non-profit organization whose mission is to use the power of running to educate and prepare girls for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living. During the 10 week character building program girls (Age 8-11) are participating in lessons on subjects such as nutrition, cooperation with others, consequences of bullying and gossiping, individual values and choices, community service, along with training to run their first 5k.

Girls on the Run is a volunteer based organization. Their most immediate need at the moment is volunteers for Running Buddies, who can accompany, encourage and mentor these young girls and cheer them across the finish line of the 5K “graduation event.” It’s not a big time commitment, but it makes a big difference!

The participation of Group Health staff members would be so exciting for the girls, and I know that having the support of a sponsor would be such a positive experience for them. Please consider contributing to their sense of accomplishment by signing up volunteer!

Please visit www.girlsrun.org/runningbuddy/ for more information about this program, as well as the Girls on the Run organization. If you have questions or would like to sign up as a volunteer, please feel free to contact Chelsea Hodgson, Running Buddy Coordinator, at chelsea@girlsrun.org or 206-528-2118. (Or you can contact Katie McCarthy, Group Health employee and Girls on the Run board member.)

This fall Group Health is sponsoring the Madrona School in SeaTac and giving any and every girl the chance find their voice and stand up for their values. There is a big need to find running buddies in south King County so any help would be great!

You can also participate in the Girls on the Run 5k Saturday, Dec. 4 at Seward Park. The theme is Super Heroes! Go here http://www.girlsrun.org/gotr5k.html to sign up and join the Group Health team “Group Health Super Heroes.” Contact Katie McCarthy about a fancy super hero cape and Group Health T-shirts.

Immunization research team at KUOW pledge drive

Published on October 13, 2010 in Community-Building. 0 Comments
GHRI’s immunization research team members Maya Dunstan, Patty Starkovich, Joanne Greene, Do Peterson, Michelle Hill, and Hallie Phillips volunteered to answer phones on Thursday, October 7 for KUOW Radio’s pledge drive.

GHRI pitches in at KUOW's pledge drive

Group Health in the Community – Video

Published on October 12, 2010 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

Curious about the impact your employer has in the community? Wondering where our Group Health volunteer t-shirts and Ouch Pouches appear on any given summer weekend? Want to know more about what these sponsorships actually mean – to us and to our partner organizations?

Check out our new Group Health in the Community video. It’s an awesome representation of Group Health in action – providing medical care at events, raising money for important causes, and participating in healthy lifestyle activities.

You – our passionate and engaged staff members – make it possible for us to make the kind of impact we do.  So, thank you. And enjoy the video!

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Jingle Bell Walk/Run 2010

Published on October 12, 2010 in Looking for teammates! and Walks & Runs. 0 Comments

We are looking for team members to part-take in a 5k walk/run for the Arthritis Foundation with the Group Health team – “Group Health Jinglers”.

What: Jingle Bell Walk/Run 2010
When: December 12, 2010
Where: Downtown Seattle – Westlake Center
Etc: Dress up in bells, reindeer antlers, Santa hats or elf shoes, let’s Jingle All The Way

There is a $25 registration fee, but you get a really cool tee shirt and it’s going to aid in funding research.

If you’re interested in participating please contact Arianna Abramczyk.

Seattle Sounders Youth Soccer Camps

Published on September 23, 2010 in Soccer. 0 Comments

This summer Group Health teamed up with the Seattle Sounders to promote soccer and a healthy, active lifestyle to kids all over Washington state. We were the presenting sponsor of the Sounders FC summer youth camps, along with Adidas. Check out this great video!

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The American Lung Association Fight For Air Stair Climb

Published on September 22, 2010 in Health & Human Service. 1 Comment

The American Lung Association Fight For Air Climb is coming up on October 23rd, 2010 at the Bellevue Towers.

You have your choice of registering to climb 45, 91 or 182 flights of stairs.

The registration fee is $50, and there is a mandatory contribution of $100 in fund raising.

I’d love to see GHC form a team and make a killing at the event! If you are interested, please contact Erin Riggers.

http://action.lungusa.org/site/TR?fr_id=2100&pg=entry

Girls on the Run Needs Coaches!

Published on September 16, 2010 in Community-Building and Health & Human Service. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

Girls On the Run of Puget Sound, a nonprofit, after school empowerment program for girls aged 8-11, is seeking volunteer coaches for its fall program starting this month.

Coaches guide groups of girls in the 3rd-5th grade age, through an easy-to-follow, well researched curriculum that uses active running games to teach healthy lifestyle lessons and train the girls for a non-competitive 5k race at the end of the session. Watch what other coaches say about why they volunteer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dqwuydwl6I0

  • Volunteer coaches must be available during after-school hours.
  • Program sites meet twice a week after school, 3-5 p.m. timeframe.
  • Coaches are expected to attend every practice.
  • Each site has 2 – 4 coaches – one Head Coach and Assistant Coaches as needed.
  • The program is offered twice a year: Fall Session (September to December) and Spring Session (March to June). Each session runs for 10 weeks.
  • Head Coaches must be 21 years or older.
  • Assistant Coaches must be 16 years or older.

Group Health's Team at the Girls on the Run spring 5k

New coaches must submit an application, attend a one-hour group interview, attend a six-hour training and consent to a background check. For more information email Amber Swim amber@girlsrun.org or visit www.girlsrun.org/coaching.

Group Health’s Kent Medical Center is an official sponsor of the program. You can also contact Katie McCarthy, Girls on the Run board member, and Group Health employee: mccarthy.kx@ghc.org. There is an immediate need for the Madrona School in SeaTac, Tues.-Thurs, from 3:20-5 p.m.

Group Health teams raise over $14,000 for Relay for Life!

Published on August 27, 2010 in Walks & Runs. 0 Comments

Most of you are probably familiar with the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life events. RLF is the ACS’s biggest fundraising campaign and the “overnighter” events are organized in local communities around the World.

Not surprisingly, several Group Health teams were  involved in Relay for Life events around our region this year. Gail Sandall and Diane Smithson led our team for the Renton Relay, Carol Ann Cochran and Shannon Lane led teams for the Spokane Relay, Leilanie Pagalilauan, and Michelle Paulson led a team for the Kent Relay, Gwen Schweitzer led a team for the Issaquah Relay and Pam Dieffenbach led a team for the Sumner/Bonney Lake Relay.

Overall, Group Health had nearly 150 people involved in 2010 Relay for Life events and the Group Health teams raised a total of over $14,000 – truly amazing!!

As the 2010 Relay for Life season comes to a close, all of the passionate participates should be recognized and feel extremely proud. Group Health is lucky to have you as representatives and ambassadors in the community.

Here are a few photos from the events!