ONSF held its 5TH Annual 5K Run/Walk & Expo – RACE TO STOP THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC on Sunday, September 17, 2017.

Over 300 runners, walkers, stroller joggers, etc., participated in support of the ONSF research project – Unraveling the Opioid Epidemic in Post-Surgical Patients. The event took place at the Eastern Greenwich Civic Center where racers gathered for a pre-race warm-up conducted by Alicia Hirscht, DPT and Tanya Kalyuzhny, DPT. Racers participated in safe conditioning exercises in preparation for the 9:00AM race start. In addition, Anthony Scire, Performance Specialist from Elite Health Services, held a warm up for our “future athletes” just prior to the Kids .05 Fun Run.

The USATF certified 5K course, which started in front of the Eastern Greenwich Civic Center and continued through scenic Old Greenwich proved to be challenging for the experienced runner as well as enjoyable for the novice runner/walker.

New this year — the Greenwich Police Dept. donated and supervised an Unused/Expired Medications Drop-off Box Program at the Expo. Participants were encouraged to bring their unused/expired prescription and over the counter medications to deposit in the drop-off box which proved to be well utilized!

Thank you to our generous donors and supporters – Serendipity, Greenwich Hospital, Houlihan Lawrence, Greentree Toyota Danbury, Granoff Architects, Camp Takajo and Tripp Lake Camp, Patriot Bank, Shatterproof, New England Oil, ONSPT, Vineyard Vines, Fieldpoint Private, Town of Greenwich Department of Parks and Rec and many others including local business that helped “spread the word.”
Thank you also to the student volunteers from the Greenwich Boys & Girls Club whose invaluable assistance in manning the aid stations, assisting at the food tent, cleaning up, etc. contributed to the overall success of the day.

Proceeds from the 5K will directly benefit the ONSF research project Unraveling the Opioid Epidemic in Post-Surgical Patients. Utilizing its nationally recognized skills, ONSF will work diligently to unravel some of this country’s opioid epidemic with specific emphasis on reducing and eventually eliminating the use of narcotics postoperatively. The Institutional Review Board at Greenwich Hospital has vetted and approved this study.