Stadium-to-Stadium Run Attracts More Than 1,000

Dozens of participants from UCSF Children's Hospital joined a contingent of more than 1,000 runners and walkers to make the five-mile trek from Monster Park to AT&T Park on Sunday during the first annual Stadium to Stadium Run/Walk. The event raised awareness of health disparities between the Bayview-Hunters Point and Visitacion Valley neighborhoods and other parts of San Francisco. Organized by the San Francisco Mayor's Office of Community Development and co-sponsored by UCSF Children's Hospital, the event raised thousands of dollars for various physical fitness, health and educational programs for children in San Francisco's southeast district neighborhoods, including the Neighborhood Hockey Team, Bayview Youth Health Action, Freedom Schools and the Southeast Nutrition Project. Mayor Gavin Newsom, with Supervisor Sophie Maxwell, kicked off the event, saying that the unexpectedly high turnout proved that there is "much good and much right" with the southeast sector of San Francisco. "I am ecstatic about the participation from the community and about the contributions of UCSF," said Dwayne Jones, director of the Mayor's Office of Community Investments and Outcomes. "This is a true representation of what you can do when you focus on what's good and positive in the community," he said, adding that UCSF's participation was "phenomenal."

Terry Dong, assistant to the Executive Vice Chancellor, left, and Brenda Gee, communications manager at the Office of the Chancellor, right, ran in the event with friends.

"UCSF's participation has been phenomenal from the beginning: offering shuttles to and from the race start, donating funds to support the run and its beneficiaries, and putting together a team of runners/walkers. "The hospital's efforts demonstrate a commitment to children in all San Francisco neighborhoods, particularly those in low-wealth communities like Bayview-Hunters Point and Visitacion Valley. It is partnerships like these that can increase awareness and impact health disparities among our most vulnerable cities and our children," Jones said. Addressing Health Disparities
According to a July 2006 San Francisco Department of Public Health report, Bayview-Hunters Point residents are hospitalized more than residents of other neighborhoods for almost every disease, including asthma, congestive heart failure and diabetes. Ten percent of the population suffers from asthma, including more than 15 percent of children and youths in the area. The average asthma rate for African Americans nationwide is about 7 percent, while in the entire population the rate is 5.6 percent. Lack of access to healthy foods, inadequate transportation, lack of exercise facilities, pollutants and high rates of violence all serve to restrict residents' ability to exercise and eat healthy foods - contributing to higher rates of a variety of diseases, including diabetes and heart disease.

Pediatric transport nurse Christa Thomas presents community member Gina Marquez with one of two car seats that were raffled during the health fair that followed the race. Photo/Ron Sieg

In addition to participating in the run/walk, UCSF Children's Hospital sponsored a booth at the post-race health fair at AT&T Park that focused attention on high-priority community health issues, including asthma, car seat safety, nutrition and healthy eating, and the importance of getting regular exercise. The UCSF Children's Hospital/American Medical Response (AMR) ambulance, which has transported more than 600 children from throughout the western United States to UCSF during the past year, was on hand for kids to explore. Two children's car seats were raffled off during the event. "Children are a vulnerable group with unique health needs," said David Russell, UCSF Children's Hospital administrative director for strategic support. "UCSF Children's Hospital is proud to help parents and children gain access to more information on health awareness. We want to continue to be a partner in supporting the health needs of kids in this community," he said. "This is an excellent opportunity for us to bring the resources of the institution to bear in a community that might not otherwise have the chance to access the state-of-the-art care and services that UCSF provides," said Lisa Gray, UCSF community partnerships coordinator. "It's a chance for people in the community to learn about the cutting-edge medical care that's right in their backyards."

Participants from UCSF and UCSF Children's Hospital gather for a group photo before the start of the race. (See picture larger)

Links: UCSF Children's Hospital