The Common Council approved the HaRUNbee 5K Walk/Run to occur on Saturday, August 6 as part of Bronzeville Week 2016, and is intended to raise awareness and help increase healthy birth outcomes in the City of Milwaukee.
The Milwaukee Lifecourse Initiative for Healthy Families (LIHF) organized the HaRUNbee Walk/Run for Healthy Birth Outcomes to promote wellness by encouraging families to stay healthy and fit, both mentally and physically. In-person registration on August 6 starts at 9 a.m. and the event will begin at 10 a.m. at N. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. and W. North Ave. To register online for the inaugural 5K Walk/Run, please go to http://bit.ly/29oJeoQ.
Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs, the primary sponsor of legislation creating the HaRUNbee 5K Walk/Run (and Bronzeville Week – an official city event — in 2011), said the Milwaukee LIHF is a community-wide collaborative, led by United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County, working to eliminate racial disparities in birth outcomes and ensure more babies reach their first birthday. The effort will include promoting wellness and encouraging communities to eat healthier and exercise to help reduce the risk of infant mortality.
“The magnitude of infant mortality in Milwaukee reflects socio-economic conditions that affect maternal and infant health, including factors such as access to quality healthcare, education, poverty and racism,” she said.
“According to the City of Milwaukee Fetal Infant Mortality Review Report (2013), during 2009-2011, the Harambee neighborhood had the second highest rate of infant mortality in the City of Milwaukee. HaRUNbee will allow residents of Milwaukee, from both within and outside of the Harambee community, to come together and participate in a 5K Walk/Run as an effort to increase infant mortality education and to support each other in this important public health endeavor,” the Alderwoman said.
Bronzeville Week 2016 takes place August 6 – 13, with the Arts and Cultural Festival kicking things off on August 6, from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
