Edward-Elmhurst Health extends half marathon sponsorship

Edward-Elmhurst Health has extended its partnership with Naper Events to be the title sponsor of the Naperville Half Marathon & 5K for three more years, through 2021.

The official title during that time will continue to be the Healthy Driven Naperville Half Marathon & 5K Sponsored by Edward-Elmhurst Health. Naper Events is the organization that puts on the races each year.

The 2019 Healthy Driven Naperville Half Marathon & 5K will be Sunday, Oct. 20. Registration is open for all races.

Edward-Elmhurst Health was the title sponsor of the first six races beginning in 2013. The races feature a downtown start and finish with a running tour of Naperville. The event is annually the No. 2 charity event in Naperville, raising more than $1.6 million in its first six years. Nearly 4,000 runners have completed the races each year.

"We are excited to continue our partnership with Naper Events and build on what has become one of the premier running events in the Chicago area," says Mary Lou Mastro, System CEO, Edward-Elmhurst Health.

"The race embodies everything that we're striving for with our Healthy Driven mission, which is to inspire our patients and the community to take charge of their health."

"As our title sponsor, Edward-Elmhurst Health has been a perfect and natural fit from day one," says Dave Sheble, co-race director for Naper Events. "We've had great success together the first six years and we're looking forward to continuing to grow Naperville's biggest weekend of running for years to come."

Numerous Edward-Elmhurst Health departments and hundreds of employees have been involved in the first six races and will continue to take part in future races, including:

• Edward Hospital's ER, which coordinates medical services for the race, including care for runners at the Main Medical Tent and Medical Aid Stations along the course.

• Edward-Elmhurst Health employees, who volunteer at water/Gatorade stations.

• Edward Hospital's Rehab & Sports Medicine Department, which helps runners with post-race stretching and injury screening, and post-race massages.

• Edward-Elmhurst Health & Fitness, which provides post-race massages.

For details, visit www.naperville26.com.