River Valley Counseling Center Announces Annual Run/Walk Event

HOLYOKE — The River Valley Counseling Center (RVCC), an affiliate of Holyoke Medical Center and member of Valley Health Systems, will hold its fourth annual 5K Run/1-Mile Walk fund-raiser on Saturday, June 13. Funds raised will support RVCC in providing mental-health and other supportive services to individuals, families, and groups in the Pioneer Valley.

The first 100 registrants for this year’s Run/Walk event for River Valley will receive a free T-shirt. The deadline for mail-in registration is Friday, June 5, with online registration accepted until Wednesday, June 11. An awards ceremony and festivities with food and entertainment will be held following the race, which will be held rain or shine. Download a registration at www.rvcc-inc.org or register online at www.accu-specracing.com.

This is RVCC’s premier fund-raising event and promotes the importance of exercise and wellness. “Research shows that people with mental illness have a lifespan 25 years shorter than that of the general population,” said Angela Lozano Callahan, fund-raising committee member and race co-chair. “There is a clear connection between mental and physical health, as sedentary lifestyles, poor nutrition, smoking, and side effects of medications, so often a part of mental illness, lead to chronic conditions, from heart disease to diabetes. Funds that are raised through our corporate sponsors and community members allow RVCC to connect residents to the services they need.”