The HealthPlus Brooksie Way kicks off 2015 by unveiling a new logo, presenting nearly $10,000 in Brooksie Way Minigrants to various community organizations and introducing a new way for racers to fundraise for local charities.
This all happens at 10 a.m. Saturday at the OU Recreation Center on the campus of Oakland University in Rochester. The public is encouraged to attend.
“The HealthPlus Brooksie Way is one of the premier road races in the Midwest and continues to evolve as we add new features for our racers,” Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson said. “This year – for the first time – every participant in a timed race will get a free runner photo of themselves, which is a very attractive perk for our racers.”
The first 100 people who show up at Saturday’s kickoff will receive a free limited-edition Brooksie Way t-shirt with the new logo, said race director Deb Kiertzner. Greg Meyer, a former winner of the Boston Marathon and a member of The Brooksie Way board of directors, is scheduled to appear at the kickoff.
The HealthPlus Brooksie Way, now in its eighth year and set for Sept. 27, is named in memory of Brooks Stuart Patterson, a young father and the son of the county executive, who died in 2007. It has become one of the most popular regional fall half marathons. The 2014 race attracted 5,800 runners and walkers. The course begins and ends at the Meadow Brook Music Festival on the campus of Oakland University and includes parts of the Clinton River and Paint Creek trails, Rochester Hills and downtown Rochester.
“HealthPlus has been a supporter of The Brooksie Way since its beginning because it’s the perfect community event to engage people and get them moving,” said Graham Smith, vice president of sales and marketing at HealthPlus. “What’s more, proceeds from the races fund year-round health and wellness programming throughout Oakland County. HealthPlus is proud of its association with The Brooksie Way.”
Race proceeds support programs that encourage healthy, active lifestyles and are distributed through Brooksie Way Minigrants. New this year besides the free racer photographs, is a charity fundraising component.
Participants can register in advance to raise money for any of the following charities:
YMCA/Girls on the Run; American Cancer Society; Leader Dogs for the Blind; OLSHA (Oakland-Livingston Human Service Agency); Michigan Special Olympics; Frankie’s Friends; OUCARES; and the Brooksie Way Minigrant program.
Those who register for a charity will receive $10 off their race registration fee.
Also new this year is the ability to purchase Brooksie Way race apparel and other logo merchandise online at www.TheBrooksieWay.com.
Runners and walkers who have participated in past HealthPlus Brooksie Way races will note a course modification for the second year, which now takes them on Dutton Road. The change is necessary because of ongoing construction on Tienken Road.
Also during the kickoff, six community organizations will receive checks for their projects from The Brooksie Way Minigrant program. The minigrants have returned more than $100,000 to support local health and fitness activities in Oakland County. The grants are awarded three times a year.
Entrants for any of the Brooksie Way races will realize significant savings by registering early at www.TheBrooksieWay.com. Participants can also register online for the popular Team Challenge – which sold out last year – and celebrate after the race in the exclusive Team Challenge tent.
The popular Kid’s Race – sponsored by Fifth Third bank – is set for Sept. 26, the day before the bigger races. Kroger, the official half marathon sponsor, will soon offer race applications in all Michigan stores. The 10k sponsor is Velmeir. The 5k race is sponsored by First Merit Bank and Genisys Credit Union is the sponsor of the charity program.
About Sarah Hovis