Corporate Relay to challenge area schools in October

The Putnam County Corporate Relay is an event that has been billed as a unique way to support mental health in the area in October.

The event will involve members from all four school corporations in Putnam County.

For at least 35 years, Marion County has had a Corporate Challenge sponsored by Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Corporate Challenge is now a national event, and is even held internationally. This relay will be a local play on the big city event.

The Putnam County relay is being administrated by Lee Stewart and members of People Pathways and Mental Health of Putnam County. The event will cost nothing to participate.

The event is set for Oct. 9 and is slated to begin at 5 p.m. It is also for adults only.

It is hoped that sponsorship donations will come from large organizations that promote good mental and physical health, with the donations being divided between Mental Health of Putnam County and People Pathways.

The four Putnam County school corporations have agreed to running and walking events involving all full-time school employees, ranging from superintendents to bus drivers and retirees.

The two featured relays will be six-person teams composed of at least two individuals of the opposite sex. The run will be from the gazebo across from Walmart to Fillmore on the People Pathway trail, approximately six-and-a-half miles. The same applies to the three-and-a-half-mile walk.

While the two relays are occurring, several shorter walks and runs will be taking place. In most cases the distances will be of half-mile durations. The entire event should last no more than an hour-and-a-half. Except for the few distance events, the shorter races will be on the paved Calbert Way.

The biggest issue, as Stewart sees it, is getting the word out to interested “athletes.” The contacts at the four high schools are Jason Chew at North Putnam; Yolanda Goodpaster at Greencastle; Brian Gardner at South Putnam; and Sonny Stoltz at Cloverdale. Stewart cannot register athletes, but can give advice at 653-9646.

It is the responsibility of those wishing to participate to contact their school of loyalty. There will be no cuts.

Points of 4-1 will be given for finishing places. An extra point will be given for finishers over 70 years old, head secretaries and superintendents. The team with the highest points will be pronounced winners of high self-esteem; gratitude for good physical and mental health; knowledge of belonging to an honorable team; and pride in being a positive example for all.

There will be no participation trophies and no individual praise, just verbal team praise and a grateful handshake from the race officials. This is more about participation than who is the best.

This is an opportunity for Putnam County to show nationally that it cares about the good physical and mental health of the community.

In 2020, county churches will be invited as well as the schools, and in 2021 area corporations and businesses will also be invited to compete in the relay.

An athlete is anyone who competes just because they choose to for various reasons. A relay will generally stimulate the athlete to work harder for the team, which creates unity and inspires greater effort from the individual, as well as the team.

Being part of a team and finding personal accomplishment from effort has proven to develop good mental health.