By Rusty Nixon Correspondent
PLYMOUTH — St. Joseph Regional Medical Center decided to put their money where their mouth is.
“I’ve had people tell me that they’re tired of coming to the doctor and being told to lose weight and the healthcare workers themselves are huffing and puffing taking them back,” said Julie Manns, RN, who organized a team of 72 runners to run in the annual Blueberry Stomp. “Morale is down, the economy isn’t looking good, we can at least show that healthcare workers can be healthy and have a little fun too.”

Along with raising a little money for a good cause, that’s what Manns’ “army” of runners did in the annual road race. Doctor’s, nurses and others from St. Joseph Regional Medical Center were able to raise nearly $800 to help with expenses at the Marshall County Health Center.
“We treat people there all the time who tell us that they are taking their medication and we find out they don’t have the money to pay for their medication,” said Manns. “People are being referred to the Health Center all the time and they are bursting at the seams so far as the number of patients they can see. Hopefully this will get them some help in getting the things that they need to do the job.”
While organizing 72 people to be in the same place at the same time – to run, of all things — Manns says that there was a great reward.
“It was all worth it to see that sea of blue out there running,” she said. “Hope-fully next year we’ll have even more people.”