Fox Valley Marathon, Advocate Health Care, and Dreyer Medical Clinic Team Up

Friday, 06 May 2011 15:03

The Fox Valley Marathon Races, Advocate Health Care, and Dreyer Medical Clinic have announced they are combining efforts this fall for the second annual set of races.  Dreyer Medical Clinic became affiliated with Advocate in 1996 and together will be the title sponsor for the Marathon Event. “We are extremely excited about this,” Fox Valley Marathon co-founder Dave Sheble said. “We are very happy Advocate Dreyer is on board for our event. We’ve been working so hard for the past year-and-a-half to grow the race and it means a lot to know they are buying into that and want to be a part of this.” Kelly Jo Golson, Advocate’s Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and Marketing said “this relationship fits perfectly into our strategy to support the health and wellness of our associates, patients, and the communities we serve.”  Dreyer’s President, Donna Cooper says “The marathon is a terrific opportunity for us and it actually runs through five of our key market areas; St. Charles, Geneva, Batavia, North Aurora, and Aurora.” Craig Bixler, Fox Valley Marathon co-founder, believes the event and new sponsor are a perfect match. “We’re thrilled at the opportunities that teaming up with Advocate Dreyer brings to the Fox Valley Marathon Races and to all of our runners,” he said. “Dreyer’s longstanding focus on the health of Fox Valley residents and Advocate’s broad Chicagoland presence are a perfect fit with our own goals of sharing the health and fitness benefits of the Fox Valley with a growing regional audience.” The 2010 Fox Valley Marathon was a groundbreaking event, supplying the suburbs of Chicago with their first marathon in over 30 years. Over one thousand runners took part in the first annual event, which included the full marathon, a half marathon and a fall final 20. In 2011, Sheble and co-founder Craig Bixler have increased registration, allowing more than two thousand runners to partake in one of the three races. “The timing is perfect, with the races’ impact growing well beyond the Fox Valley into areas where Advocate is a significant presence,” Bixler said. “The resources and expertise within the Advocate Dreyer team are well beyond what the Fox Valley Marathon Races alone could offer, and we’ve already begun plans together for some fun new events that reach out to area families beyond the traditional marathon, 20 mile, and half marathon runners to make the Fox Valley Marathon Races even more exciting to participants, spectators, sponsors, and the communities. “The Fox Valley Marathon is looking forward to a long relationship with Advocate Dreyer where, together, we can continually improve on a premier athletic and spectator event that showcases the area throughout the summer-long running season.” The 2011 Fox Valley Marathon will be held Sunday, September 18, beginning at 7:00 a.m. in St. Charles.  For more details, head to www.fv26.com. About the Fox Valley Marathon Races In its 2010 inaugural event, the Fox Valley Marathon Races quickly became Chicago’s premier west suburban running event and one of the best in the entire Midwest. The marathon, half marathon and 20 mile races showcase the towns, parks and paved trails along the Fox River from St. Charles to Aurora, and draw runners from across the country and internationally.  The fast, flat, shady course and extensive volunteer support make it a favorite for all runners from first timers to personal best and Boston hopefuls. Fox Valley 2011 is timed perfectly to the Boston and Chicago marathon schedules, including a qualifier marathon on the last weekend to qualify for Boston 2012, and the innovative Fall Final 20TM race three weeks before Chicago 2011. The newly introduced Weather Flex OptionTM lets runners double the chance of finding good weather for their fall marathon attempt. The Fox Valley Marathon Races - for runners, by runners. For more information, visit us at www.fv26.com About Advocate Health Care and Dreyer Medical Clinic Advocate Health Care, one of the nation’s top 10 health systems based on clinical performance, is the largest health system in Illinois and one of the largest health care providers in the Midwest. Advocate operates more than 250 sites of care, including 10 acute care hospitals, two integrated children’s hospitals, five Level I trauma centers (the state’s highest designation in trauma care), two Level II trauma centers, one of the area’s largest home health care companies and one of the region’s largest medical groups. Established by physicians in 1922, Dreyer Medical Clinic is an affiliate of Advocate Health Care.  With nearly 150 physicians representing 28 medical specialties, Dreyer offers a full range of ancillary services within its facilities and the support of over 60 allied health professionals.  Dreyer has 11 convenient sites located in Aurora, Batavia, Oswego, Yorkville, Plainfield, and Hinckley.  Detailed information about Dreyer’s health care providers, locations, and accepted insurances is available on the Clinic website, dreyermed.com.