West River Health Services, provider of top-notch healthcare “close to home,” continues to participate with our area communities by “paying it forward.” Recently the “Fun Run & Walk” Committee at WRHS met to discuss this past year’s 30th Annual event. The number of participants was amazing for a Wednesday 4th of July (157); no trains blocked the railroad tracks for runners and walkers hustling to or leaving the event; and numerous prizes were handed out – for both running ability and raffle ticket prizes.
Overall, when all of the bills were paid and all of the registrations, sponsorships and raffle tickets were calculated, $6,000 was cleared from this event. It was decided that we would put ALL of this year’s funds back into our area communities.
To start with, $2,000 was placed toward Stephanie Staples’ engaging community visit at the Hettinger Theater on September 4th. She has been traveling the world the past 12 years, delivering her motivational speeches to businesses and communities. She spoke from past experiences and how important it is to strive to become healthy and happy. She believes we should all work on YOU. She also said this was the first business (WRHS) to open up her speech to the public in her 12 years of speaking around the world!
West River also placed a total of $1,500 toward local Park & Recreation Programs in Scranton, Bowman, New England, Mott, Hettinger and Lemmon, SD – to be utilized for our six satellite communities’ youth. We believe in providing the necessary equipment for our area youth to engage in healthy activities.
A new idea brought forth was to enhance the Fitness Program in Lemmon, SD, with $700 for six free fitness sessions for adults and youth with Keith Jackson Training Systems. This fall and winter, there will be six, one-hour fitness sessions for adults, and six one-hour fitness sessions for youth at the Lemmon Armory. Once again, West River is helping our patients engage in healthy activities.
Also, this fall and winter, WRHS has set aside $500 for free Open Swims at the Hettinger Swimming Pool. These open swims are open to the public – adults and youth – to enjoy the healthy activity of swimming.
Plus, WRHS will be offering youth and adult “Cooking Classes” in Hettinger this fall and winter, as $800 has been allocated for quick and easy recipes with hands-on instruction. There will be separate adult and youth classes. Maybe even some together!
Most of you have heard that our local Hettinger-Scranton Cross Country team has been looking for local sponsors, as the school’s have decided not to fund the program. Therefore, WRHS has placed $300 toward the entry fees and fuel necessary to keep this healthy fitness program going. Thank you to Stephanie Howe and Zeta Drolc for maintaining this healthy program for our youth.
Lastly, WRHS has gifted $200 to The Granary, the home of our “Fun Run & Walk.” We appreciate having this facility at our start/finish line. It allows for restrooms, a terrific wind block for our registration folk and participants; and in the event of inclement weather, a nice place for our participants and staff to stay warm and dry.
There’s no doubt that West River Health Services Foundation has been asking a lot of our local area communities -- to support our efforts for a new MRI Scanner; renovations to Western Horizons Care Center, WRHS Mott Clinic and a new Clinic in Lemmon; Partners In Health Club memberships; Ambulance Services; Scholarships and Endowment Fund gifts. But we are also giving back to our area communities – via top-notch healthcare providers, state-of-the-art healthcare equipment, and now, in a larger way, for our area community activities. We always have and we always will – keep “paying it forward” locally. Onward!
By Ted Uecker, WRHS Foundation