The benefits of running to mental health and well being are documented.

So it seems fitting that a run should raise awareness of mental health issues and a center dedicated to providing services for those in Butler County dealing with those issues.

Irene Stacy Community Mental Health Center in Butler will sponsor its second annual Bridge to Recovery 5K Race/ Walk at 9 a.m. April 30. The event, run on the Butler County Community College campus, kicks off Mental Health Awareness Month in May.

The event’s name, Bridge to Recovery, symbolizes the mental health center’s belief that it can act as a bridge from substance abuse, intellectual disabilities and mental and psychiatric issues to recovery and a happy, normal life for an estimated 3,000 clients annually.

Race director Lisa Moss, CFO of Irene Stacy Mental Health Center, is an experienced distance runner. She and husband Craig recently ran the Flying Pirate Half Marathon in Kitty Hawk, N.C..

Co-director Rita Lane, community treatment team specialist at the health center, and husband Al are familiar faces at area running events. Moss and Lane have designed the Bridge to Recovery 5K Race for runners and walkers of all fitness levels.

Moss says that employees and family members are very supportive of the race. She expects many to volunteer on race day.

Bridge to Recovery’s course loops through the gently rolling paved community college campus roads. Moss expects some of Butler’s fastest road racers to challenge the course along with those challenging their fitness level.

“The serious racers loved it,” Moss said, “but the course is not intimidating to beginners.”

Bridge to Recovery offers a short kids run following the 5K to introduce kids to exercise. All kids receive a finishers’ ribbon. A popular diaper dash, a short crawl for toddlers, also returns this year.

More than 100 runners and walkers participated in last year’s Bridge to Recovery Race. This year’s registrations have almost reached that level with over a week remaining before the event. Runners may sign up on the day of the event, but commemorative T-shirts are available on a limited basis.

The BC3 Student Union Building acts as the staging area for the event and the post race party featuring music and pizza. There will be goody bags and plenty of food, drinks and raffle prizes from generous local sponsors for all participants.

For more information about the Bridge to Recovery 5K, call Lisa Moss at 724-355-0020 or email lmoss@irenestacy.com.

Butler Road Race

Get ready, get running. It’s hard to believe, but the big Butler Road Race is a little more than eight weeks away. The 35th annual celebration of road running and scholarships for high school cross country runners takes place June 25.

You’ve got plenty of time to get off the couch and get ready to take your place at the starting line on Main Street with the “8-weeks to Fitness” plan.

Start this gradual plan with a 20-minute walk on May 1 and you’ll be ready to complete at least the 2K distance with your friends and neighbors at the Butler Road Race on June 25.

If you’d like a copy of “8-Weeks to Fitness,” e-mail me at lotzak@consolidated.net or download this and other running plans at www.stlukecabot.org. Click on Will Run for Food logo.

Upcoming events

Saturday, 7 a.m.: Up-N-Running Group Run Road Trip, Valencia. Meet at 5:45 a.m. to carpool for a run on the Pittsburgh Marathon course. 724-898-2525 or shoes@runpa.com

Saturday, 8 a.m.: Up-N-Running Group Run, Valencia. Your choice of distance. 724-898-2525 or shoes@runpa.com

Saturday, 8:30 a.m.: Pittsburgh Marathon Training Run, Pittsburgh. Choice of four or eight miles starting at UPMC Sports Medicine, Southside. kpavlich@pittsburghmarathon.com

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Great Shamokin Path 5K, NuMine. Run on rail trail. 724-783-7040 or merc@asd.k12.pa.us.

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Roaring Run Earth Day Dash 5K/ 15K, Apollo. Flat out and back 5K, mostly flat 15K starts at Roaring Run Trail. www.roaringrun.org

April 23, 9 a.m.: Race for Joe 5K, Franklin Park. www.raceforjoe.org

April 27, 7 p.m.: Sunset Sprint 5K, Grove City. Weeberrc1@gcc.edu

April 30, 9 a.m.: Bridge to Recovery 5K Race/ Walk, Butler. Starts at Butler County Community College Student Union. 724-355-0020 or lmoss@irenestacy.com

April 30, 9 a.m.: Superhero Foundation 1K or 5K Run/ Walk, North Park. Starts at Boathouse. 724-466-4376 or Pittsburgh@thesuperherofoundation.org

April 30, 10 a.m.: Prep for Pittsburgh Half Marathon and 5K, Sandy Lake. Run at Lake Wilhelm in Goddard State Park. 724-301-6775 or info@mctrails.org

May 1, 3 p.m.: GRASP 5KRun/ Walk, Greenville. Starts at Riverside Park. 724-991-9603 or epetrak@thiel.edu.

May 7, 9 a.m.: Team Alex Fund 5K/ 5 Mile Run/ Walk, North Park. 724-934-3672 or contact@teamalexfund.org.

May 7, 9 a.m.: Guthrie Gallop 5K, 10K, Sayre. 607-742-7260 or guthriegallop@stny.rr.com.

May 8, 8:35 a.m.: Race for the Cure 5K Run, Pittsburgh. 412-342-0500 or www.komenpittsburgh.org

May 8, 10 A.M.: Crazy Horse Trail Run, South Park. Choice of 4.5 miles or 2 miles with Greater Pittsburgh Road Runners Club. 724-348-6012

May 11, 6:30 P.M.: Muskie 5k Mini Marathon, Jamestown. Starts at Pymatuning State Park. Heather_harmon@jamestown.k12.pa.us.

May 14, 9 A.M.: ACMH 5k Wellness Run/ Walk, Kittanning. Starts at hospital. 724-543-8850.

May 22, 9 A.M.: Band on the Run 5k Run/ Walk, Mars. Also 1k kids fun run. www.marsband5k.com

May 22, 8:30 A.M.: St. Margaret Foundation Fitness Classic 5k Run/ Walk, Aspinwall. 412-784-5169 or www.stmargaretfoundation.org

Race results

Just a Short Run 5K, March 26: Steven Strelick, 1st Overall M, 16:29; Jacqueline Kirich, 1st Overall W, 21:47; Brendan Knox, 2nd Under 15 M, 21:19; Bill Knox, 1st 45-49 M, 22:21; Frank Bogacz, 3rd 35-39 M, 22:50; Brian Cochran, 23:31; Reilly Butler, 1st Under 15 W, 24:11; Lauren Titchen, 2nd Under 14 W, 24:13; Natalie Petrini, 3rd Under 14 W, 24:31; Lynne Giger, 1st 45-49 W, 28:51; Becky Miller, 1st 55-59 W, 30:27; Judy Haley, 3rd 45-49 W, 31:04; Al Maiure, 2nd 65-69 M, 38:09; Lucas Mowrey, 24:12; Connor Amsler, 24:42; Brian Zima, 24:48; Doogie Cannon, 24:58; Sean Hannon, 25:09; Jack Butler, 25:18; Daniel Oconnell, 26:54; Peter Amendola, 27:55; Jerome Nacey, 28:05; A.J. Maiure, 28:15; Nathan Grijalva, 28:27; Aaron Cvitkovich, 28:50; Doug Titchen, 29:12; Jackson Condrick, 29:14; Kris Nelson, 30:51; Dawn Cancilla, 30:53; Christina Dugan, 30:58; Colton Hards, 30:59; Thomas Haley, 31:03; Max Aubrecht, 31:05; Bob Fischer, 31:07; Sam Anderson, 31:09; Kyle Anderson, 31:12; Dylan Seebacher, 31:36; Randy Seebacher, 31:37; Jessica Patterson, 31:45; Heidi Wolanin, 32:12; Brady Knox, 32:36; Sharon Pistachio, 32:41; Rick Becker, 33:44; Emily Becker, 33:45; Emily Croll, 33:47; Kevin Soergel, 34:11; Marianne Leadmon, 34:21; Patrick Maire, 35:02; Nicole Myers, 35:16; Abby Neiser, 35:16; Ben Cole, 35:34; Steffany McCafferty, 35:36; Amanda Cole, 36:07; Jennifer Frisk, 36:59; Jeffrey DeSantes, 38:07; Kathy Sims, 39:03; Kevin Butler, 39:28; Linda Kummer, 39:29; Lisa Bogacz, 40:21; Karl Wyble, 41:46; Wendy Fischer, 43:01; Craig Moss, 45:19; Courtney Wahlstrom, 46:45; Sarah Johnson, 47:28; Emily Wahlstrom, 47:29; Linda Johnson, 47:56; Jason Burkert, 50:43; Marnie Butler, 51:35; Kaye Wahlstrom, 52:36; Allison Fischer, 53:46; Beth Hayden, 54:31; Heather Melzer, 54:47; Linda Curtis, 55:47; Madeline Nacey, 57:41; Lucy Nacey, 57:45

Just a Short Run 8.1 Mile, March 26: Brandon Gillingham, 1st Overall M, 45:53; Mindy Zottola, 1st Overall W, 53:34; Bruce Hall, 1st 40-44 M, 1:07:14; Julia Scanlan, 1st 14 & Under W, 1:07:57; Frankie Petrini, 2nd 14 & Under W, 1:08:07; Jill Todd, 3rd 55-59 W, 1:18:07; Lauren Case, 2nd 15-19 W, 1:22:17; John Limbacher, 1:10:23; Matt Grosman, 1:11:46; Jocelyn Kimmel, 1:13:44; Luanna Demetter, 1:13:46; Karl Johnson, 1:15:04; Kristy Martino, 1:15:13; John Kostelnik, 1:15:39; Dawn Carlson, 1:15:55; Amy Sain, 1:16:09; Jerry Sain, 1:16:10; Stephanie Maccaglia, 1:16:50; Michael Carnicelli, 1:17:44; Tom Kennedy, 1:17:44; Emily Todd, 1:18:07; Scott Wahlstrom, 1:21:24; Jackie Trzcinski, 1:23:57; Rebecca Woods, 1:26:13; Carol English, 1:26:13; Allison Beresnyak, 1:26:18; Robyn Stewart, 1:29:38; Kim Bell, 1:31:16; Lisa Moss, 1:31:51; Mindy DiBello, 1:32:16; Kim Spears, 1:35:16; Susan Tassey, 1:35:55; Lynn Aufman, 1:36:33; Vickie Turner, 1:42:45

Just a Short Run Half Marathon, March 26: Jeff Weiss, 1st Overall M, 1:09:16; Carol Jefferson, 1st Overall W, 1:20:13; Tony Nocera, 1st 30-34 M, 1:15:36; Grant Baron, 1st 15-19 M, 1:17:43; Ryan Kerr, 2nd 15-19 M, 1:36:46; Tracy Newman, 3rd 30-34 W, 1:44:56; Sharyl Relic, 1st 50-54 W, 1:46:06; Tom Murray, 2nd 65-69 M, 2:11:09; Marcia Semple, 1st 65-69 W, 2:53:33; Jeffrey Hoban, 1:40:18; Patrick Paul, 1:40:55; Tom Karenbauer, 1:43:58; Tim Mouser, 1:45:39; Jeff Smith, 1:46:33; Michelle Carnicelli, 1:51:25; Ron Hartle, 1:52:41; Kristine Poloyac, 1:53:17; Gina Mouser, 1:53:19; Christi Novak, 1:55:34; Michelle Pekich, 1:57:39; David Csupak, 1:57:45; Cyndie DeLucia, 1:57:46; James Gascoine, 1:58:17; Patricia Ingraham, 1:59:37; Kelli Hartman, 2:00:55; Carrie Bebb, 2:03:26; Eileen Novak, 2:04:35; Jeffrey Skal, 2:05:16; Kelley Morrone, 2:06:34; Adam Shoup, 2:07:27; Nicole Khoury, 2:07:28; Bob Dawson, 2:08:10; Tesha Stimmal, 2:12:53; Bonnie Case, 2:14:34; Linda Ryan, 2:17:54; Brian Shuttleworth, 2:18:20; Justin Curry, 2:18:34; Jackie Karenbauer, 2:23:06; Mary Morgan, 2:23:49; Rachel Steigerwald, 2:26:32; Brenna McGann, 2:27:27; Ruth Cochran, 2:29:19; Melissa Price, 2:34:27; Sherrie Mazurek, 2:35:21; Jenni Loeffler, 2:50:31; Deborah Jackson, 3:26:00

Just a Short Run 30K, March 26: Elijah Shekinah, 1st Overall M, 1:52:11; Anna Beck, 1st Overall W, 1:59:21; Holly Bauer, 1st 35-39 W, 2:20:07; Lisa Kostelnik, 1st 25-29 W, 2:32:46; Patricia Neubert, 2nd 55-59 W, 2:50:21; Ken Tack, 1st 60-64 M, 2:51:37; James Wrubel, 2:22:07; John Armstrong, 2:24:28; Paul McCartney, 2:30:12; Melissa Shaeffer, 2:36:22; Joel Schaeffer, 2:36:22; John Lemmex, 2:36:39; Jason Acerra, 2:36:47; Charles Huth, 2:37:53; William Osche, 2:41:22; Bruce Barnes, 2:46:27; Robert Todd, 2:47:04; Jeff Hans, 2:47:07; Keith Quisenberry, 2:47:41; Michael Labarre, 2:47:58; Carr Birckbichler-Smith, 2:52:54; Megan McDaniel, 2:55:08; Timothy Washko, 2:58:38; Ryan Henrie, 3:04:04; Charles Johns, 3:04:07; Michael Coyne, 3:07:13; Gineen Dutkovic, 3:08:01; Colleen McCloskey, 3:19:14; Deborah Huth, 3:24:42; Christina Rocco, 3:34:29; Alfred Schnabel, 3:39:42

Send comments and suggestions: Patricia Neubert, 435 Cherry Valley Rd., Saxonburg, Pa. 16056. Phone 724-352-4395. Email lotzak@consolidated.net

Pat Neubert is a running columnist for the Butler Eagle