A new partnership between Mercy Health-Toledo and Racing for Recovery aims to increase access to services and bring new ideas to both groups’ efforts to provide better addiction and behavioral health care.
Todd Crandell, Racing for Recovery’s founder and president, called it “an honor” to work with Mercy Health and get the opportunity to reach more people. The organization offers a variety of substance abuse-related services for those in the Toledo area, including counseling, support groups, and assessments.
“We want to be able to talk to more providers who might not be aware of all that’s [available] and have us be a resource,” he said.
He add he hopes in the future it can expand to other Mercy Health locations in the system, including elsewhere in Ohio and in Kentucky.
Mr. Crandell, who has been clean and sober since 1993, now competes in Iron Man triathlons and promotes an active, substance-free lifestyle.
Among the first activities of the new partnership, Mercy Health-Toledo will be the presenting sponsor at the Racing for Recovery “Rock’tober” run/walk Oct. 22.
Following the opening of Behavioral Health Institute at St. Charles Hospital in Oregon, Mercy Health officials began to see increased opportunities for partnerships at the intersection of mental health and substance abuse treatment, said spokesman Sarah Bednarski.
“We came to recognize that there is a lot that needs to be done. With opioid epidemic in this community, we all need together and find a solution,” she said. “We started conversations with Racing for Recovery, knowing the strong work they do in this community [and] knowing Todd and his experience.”
Those interested in signing up for the race, which will be held on the campus of Lourdes University in Sylvania, should visit runsignup.com/Race/OH/Sylvania/RacingforRecovery5K10KFunRun.
The 5K and 10K entry fees are $30, but prices increase Sept. 30. A 1-mile memory walk to honor those who have died is $15. More information about Racing for Recovery can be found on the group’s website, racingforrecovery.org.
Contact Lauren Lindstrom at llindstrom@theblade.com, 419-724-6154, or on Twitter @lelindstrom.
First Published September 17, 2017, 6:00 p.m.
