In promoting a healthy lifestyle, the Mountain Park Health Center hosted the second annual run at Tempe’s Kiwanis Park on Oct. 14.

This year’s run saw the introduction of new challenges with 5km, 10km and children’s run.

According to Andrew Vogeney, Marketing and Engagement Manager at Mountain Park Health Center the run strives to ensure a healthy community in Tempe and neighboring areas.

“One of the greatest ways to do that is to get the whole community together; to come out and enjoy family fitness together,” Vogeney said. “A lot of our staff and our patients in our community just look for an activity that they could do and this run is dog-friendly, it good friendly and it stroller- friendly”.

According to an article by Victoria Larned of CNN obesity among all US adult has reached an all-time high, with 40% of the country’s adult and 19% youth reportedly obese.

Responding to the country’s percentage rise in obesity, Vogeney said physical activities help deal with issues such as diabetes and related diseases.

Speaking to Northeast Valley News; Brooks Dockter, Volunteer and Engagement Coordinator at Mountain Park Health Center said this run was established to generate interest in the East Valley after opening a new clinic in 2016 in Tempe.

Run participant, Erin Forsyth said she mostly participate in runs to keep herself healthy and to support charities.

“The race was hard because I normally do 5km’s and I chose 10km this time. Nonetheless, I kept the 5km pace,” Forsyth said. “These kinds of event are important because they promote a healthy lifestyle. It very nice to see parents involved with kids, even if they are not going to run but seeing their parents active helps establish healthy lifestyle at a young age for children.”

Speaking jokingly, Victor Yee said he participated in the run because of his wife.

“I am a runner and I do 10km in less than one hour, but the ultimate goal is to be in shape,” Yee said.