Blue Review - Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma

Jan. 8, 2015

In the Community: Blue Cross Sponsors 2014 Route 66 Marathon

The Williams Route 66 Marathon is a Tulsa tradition and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma (BCBSOK) was proud to be the presenting sponsor of the ninth annual Route 66 Marathon, held Friday, Nov. 21 through Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014. In addition, BCBSOK also sponsored the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma Corporate Challenge.

On Friday, participants picked up their race packets at the Health, Fitness and Sustainability Expo at the Cox Business Center. They were also encouraged to stop by the BCBSOK booth to learn about our company and pick up free gloves, fleece ear warmers and cowbells for their cheering section along the race route. And one lucky visitor won a Garmin 610 Training Watch!

The 5K, Fun Run and Mascot Dash brought thousands of people to downtown Tulsa on a rainy Saturday morning. On Sunday, even more runners participated in the Marathon, Half-Marathon and Marathon Relay. According to the runners, the weather conditions made this a perfect race to run. Around 9,000 people raced on Sunday and a total of 11,000 people participated in all of the weekend’s events.

This year, the marathon benefited five charities: Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, Folds of Honor Foundation, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Oklahoma Chapter, Tulsa Area United Way and the Tulsa Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). Runners helped raise about $33,000 and the marathon donated an additional $25,000 for the deserving causes.

As the 2014 Corporate Challenge sponsor, BCBSOK gave organizations of all sizes the opportunity to form corporate teams to run on Saturday and Sunday as a way to promote health and wellness in their workplace. Corporate Challenge teams were awarded points in three areas: participation, performance and fundraising. The winning teams from each division win the BCBSOK Corporate Challenge Cup. Those who participated in the Corporate Challenge also received a commemorative towel.

While runners took to the Tulsa streets on Sunday morning, BCBSOK volunteers hosted a Water Stop in Woodward Park to support the race participants. Volunteers passed out thousands of water cups and motivated full, half and relay marathon runners to press on towards the finish line.

Congratulations to the 2014 Williams Route 66 Marathon participants! BCBSOK is impressed by your commitment to live a healthy lifestyle.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma is a Division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.