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1st Annual WellSource Access to Care 5k

Sat May 2, 2015 Mason City, IA 50401 US Directions

Events

1 Mile Wellness Walk

8:00AM CDT - 10:00AM CDT

Place

Central Park
20 N. Federal Ave.
Mason City, IA US 50401

Description

"Bringing your whole health to mind". 

The WellSource Access to Care 5k event focuses on working together to bring awareness to mental health in North Iowa by providing support to individuals and families affected by mental illness.  Our aim is to reduce the stigma associated with a mental health diagnosis along with identifying the many area service providers dedicated to serving this cause. By bridging gaps and developing relationships our hope is to build a healthier and more resilient community in North Iowa. 

This year we wish to commemorate the Access to Care 5k and Wellness Walk to the late Jeff Abben, RN BSN who served as a Clinical Leader on 5 East at Mercy Medical Center – North Iowa. His life and work was dedicated to the treatment of individuals with a mental health diagnosis and finding practical and constructive solutions to keeping symptoms and stressors to a minimum. He had such a heart toward those in need and was a true servant leader. We will always hold him dear to our hearts remembering the abundant life that he lived and the legacy that he has left for us to continue.

 Jeffrey Abben spent his career helping to treat and advocate for patients with mental illness. He began his career in 1983 working as an orderly/care assistant at the Cerro Gordo County Home care facility, where he early on was introduced to patients with mental illness. Jeff advanced his career by earning his Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) degree from Iowa Central Community College in 1984, Registered Nurse (RN) degree in 1990, and Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in 2010. In March of 1988 he began his first (and only) nursing job with St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, now Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa, in the Behavioral Health in patient unit. Here, Jeff learned the complexities of mental health and delivered great care alongside a fantastic team of nurses, psych-techs, social workers, physicians, and too many more to be mentioned. He spent his career ensuring that he put effort into getting to know his patients, not just treating them like a number. As the thousands of patients that he interacted with over the decades will tell you, Jeff was never one to judge and looked past their mental illness and saw them for the good people they are. He truly wished that people could see past the stigma of mental health and see those patients as fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, grandparents, co-workers, and neighbors - something that so many have a passion for, as Jeff did. Jeff passed away unexpectedly in February of 2014, but he is remembered by so many who’s lives he has impacted over the years.

 

 

Race Contact Info

If you have any questions about this race, click the button below.

Sponsors


1 Mile Wellness Walk map

Click on the hyperlink above to view the 1 mile Wellness Walk map. This course brings participants in front of the "Music Man Footbridge" and walks in front of the McNider Art Museum and Mason City Public Library. 

The following video is a fun reminder of what 30 minutes a day can do for our mental and physical health. 

WellSource Access to Care 5k Route Map

Visit the above link to find the course route Map. 

This 5k run/walk starts and finishes at Central Park in historic downtown Mason City, Iowa. The course travels down State Street past East Park, Prairie Playground and the 457 steam engine. On the return, the course travels along River Heights Drive and over the "Music Man Footbridge" passing some of Mason City's historically recognized landmarks.

 

 

Live Music

Click the "Live Music" link to access the performer's facebook page. 

Live music for the event provided by local singer/songwriter, John Carden.

Directions

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