Staff from Georgia Cancer Specialists (GCS)—a Top 10 private cancer practice in the U.S.—formed a team to participate in the 2010 Kaiser Permanente Corporate Run/Walk Thursday, September 16, at Turner Field. The race was GCS’ most recent addition to their long-term wellness strategy, aimed at keeping employees aware of their health and focused on staying active.
“In 2009, GCS introduced the Walk To The Moon initiative, where we challenged ourselves as a company to walk the 238,855 miles from the earth to the moon, and we ultimately reached our goal,” said Dr. Wendy Hawke Lenz, COO of GCS. “Earlier this year the wellness commitment continued, with 90 percent of our staff taking part in a health risk assessment, and this Kaiser race has been yet another successful step toward achieving our company-wide wellness goals.”
This was GCS’ second straight year participating in the metro Atlanta Kaiser Corporate Run/Walk, and they saw a significant increase in company interest and involvement from 2009 to 2010. Last year, GCS had 15 employees sign up for the event; this year about 50 registered and more than 40 actually ran or walked the 3.1 miles.
“So many more people participated this year than last,” said Tracie Jackson, staff educator at GCS and a member of the GCS race team. “It was exciting to see everyone have a good time with their co-workers while also thinking about their health.”
Taking part in non-profit health care organization run/walks has become a staple for GCS, and they plan to participate in at least six such events per year. Overall wellness is especially relevant to the employees at GCS, since a balanced diet and regular exercise – in addition to regular screenings – have been shown to prevent certain cancers.
The 5K race—which started from Hank Aaron Street at Turner Field—concluded with fireworks, a live band, and other festivities. Approximately 15,000 other participants from more than 400 Atlanta-area companies also took part in the annual event.
Georgia Cancer Specialists is a Top 10 private cancer practice in the U.S. and a leader in advanced cancer treatment and research. The practice supports more than 200,000 patient visits each year. GCS offers community-based medical oncology and hematology services and is the first private oncology practice to also provide a full range of support services for patients in Georgia, including nutritional counseling, pain management, wellness counseling, and home health coordination. The GCS research department, whose focus is bringing targeted cancer therapy to communities, is the first in Georgia to offer Phase I clinical trials, the most novel cancer therapies available. GCS has 29 offices, 45 physicians, and more than 500 support staff members located in Metro Atlanta, North and Central Georgia, Southeast Tennessee, and Southwest North Carolina. Georgia Cancer Specialists can be found on the web at www.gacancer.com. GCS is The Cancer Answer.
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