Proceeds from sponsors and entree fees will all go to Glendale Adventist Medical Center’s Stroke Center, which will in turn use the funds to mount a public outreach campaign to raise awareness about strokes, said Cynthia Kabatan, director of the hospital’s neuroscience institute.
“It’s the third-leading cause of death in the U.S., but most importantly it’s the leading cause of adult disability,” Kabatan said.
“And in Glendale and the San Fernando Valley, it has remained the second cause of death for several years for people aged 60 and above, and there is such a lack of public awareness not only in this community but in the entire nation.”
Plans for the Downtown Dash were born out of hopes by the merchants association and other city organizations to produce more downtown-focused community events, much like Cruise Night and this year’s procession of the Love Ride along Brand Boulevard, Campbell said.
“One of the cool things was we wanted to find a good cause, and we felt that Glendale Adventist does quite a bit and they have some amazing stroke services, and something a lot of people downplay is the frequency and severity of strokes, so we decided that we would do it for that cause,” he said.
As former chairman of the Thanksgiving Day Run for the Hungry in La Cañada-Flintridge, Campbell said he witnessed the potential for charity 5K races to bring a large portion of the city community together and draw avid runners from outside the city.
“Just seeing how families come out, and businesses, you know, people form teams,” he said.
“A lot of people go out there, moms with strollers, and even if they’re just walking, they’re still participating.”
