Don't miss the 10th annual Palm Springs Health Run & Wellness Festival Jan. 27

Jeff Hocker
·3 min read
Registration is open for the 10th annual Palm Springs Health Run & Wellness Festival on Jan. 27, 2024.
Registration is open for the 10th annual Palm Springs Health Run & Wellness Festival on Jan. 27, 2024.

Make your new year's resolution to be part of the 10th annual Palm Springs Health Run & Wellness Festival, presented by the Desert Healthcare District & Foundation as part of its 75th anniversary celebration. The event has now become the largest of its kind in Southern California and is produced by Hocker Productions.

Masters of ceremony will include fitness experts Scott Cole, national aerobics champion and Abs of Steel video series fame, along with Craig Ramsay, dancer-singer-actor, who won “The Amazing Race Canada” with best friend Catherine Wreford in the summer of 2022.

New this year, Scott Nevins will take on the role of emcee for the awards ceremony, which will honor Dr. Tae Kim and Dr. Gemma Kim of Desert Physicians Medical Group Health with the Health & Wellness Influencer award; Sheila Thornton, CEO of OneFuture Coachella Valley with the Community Wellness Advocate award; and local performer Keisha D with the Lifetime Achievement award.

Scott Nevins will emcee the awards ceremony at the 10th annual Palm Springs Health Run & Wellness Festival on Jan. 27, 2024.
Scott Nevins will emcee the awards ceremony at the 10th annual Palm Springs Health Run & Wellness Festival on Jan. 27, 2024.

Nevins is an award-winning TV host and personality who gained national notoriety on Bravo's "The People's Couch" and truTV's hit show "truTV Presents: World's Dumbest …" He was included on Out magazine's prestigious Out100 list, and he is the recipient of the OutThere Award and the Silver ADDY Award. Nevins is an active community leader and advocate and a proud board member of DAP Health, Palm Springs Sister Cities and Friends of the Palm Springs Animal Shelter.

Runners can register for the USATF-certified 5K and 10K runs or run or walk in the 1K Fun Run, which is suitable for the entire family.

The Wellness Festival has grown substantially since its inception 10 years ago and now has more than 80 health and wellness booths showcasing the latest in nutrition, exercise techniques, a rock climbing wall and more.

KESQ News Channel 3's food challenge will pit meteorologist and “Eye on the Desert” host Patrick Evans against last year’s winner, Chef Jon Merchain, chef and owner of Lay' Vince restaurant. Riverside County Supervisor V. Manuel Perez; Four Twenty Bank & Lounge owner Julie Montante; and Peter Daut, KESQ News Channel 3 anchor, will be the judges. This is an event not to be missed.

A rock climbing wall will be available at the 10th annual Palm Springs Health Run & Wellness Festival on Jan. 27, 2024.
A rock climbing wall will be available at the 10th annual Palm Springs Health Run & Wellness Festival on Jan. 27, 2024.

The Wellness Festival has become the largest event of its kind in Southern California and is now the one-stop location for free testing, vaccines and screenings. Desert Health Care District & Foundation will have its new mobile unit on-site. Riverside University Health System will provide free COVID and Mpox (aka monkeypox) vaccines along with flu shots. Desert Oasis Health Care will have its new mobile unit doing free health screenings for blood pressure, body mass index (BMI) and glucose (diabetes). Eisenhower Health will provide first aid and respiratory screenings. And DAP Health will be doing free HIV and STI screenings.

Lifestream Blood Bank is currently facing a severe shortage of Type O blood, so its mobile bus will also be on-site for its annual blood drive.

This world-class event would not be possible without the incredible support of the following companies: the Desert Healthcare District & Foundation (presenting sponsor), City of Palm Springs, KESQ News Channel 3, Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, Desert Care Network, Desert Oasis Healthcare, the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation, Gilead Sciences, Scan Health, Riverside County Supervisors, The Desert Sun, Hot Purple Energy, Desert Water Agency, Palm Springs Disposal, Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, Armtec, Sun Community Federal Credit Union, PSPOA, Marker Broadcasting, Alpha Media and so many others.

The 10th annual Palm Springs Health Run & Wellness Festival will include a food challenge.
The 10th annual Palm Springs Health Run & Wellness Festival will include a food challenge.

Save the Date for Jan. 27 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Register at palmspringshealthrun.com.

Companies and nonprofits interested in sponsorships, a vendor booth or other involvement in the Palm Springs Health Run & Wellness Festival should contact Jeff Hocker at (760) 409-1530 or jeffhocker1@gmail.com or visit palmspringshealthrun.com for downloadable forms.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Don't miss the 10th annual Palm Springs Health Run Jan. 27