Alice Community Moves Together, First Move to Improve 5K Draws Locals
The inaugural Move to Improve 5K Run Walk took place at Anderson Park on December 5, bringing families and neighbors together to promote walking and preventive health. Organizers collected entry fees and designated donations for The Purple Door, highlighting local efforts to combine community activity with support for a neighborhood cause.
On December 5 the first Move to Improve 5K Run Walk filled Anderson Park in Alice with people of all ages taking part in an event organized by Dr. Carlos Elizondo of the Elizondo Medical Group. The low cost entry structure with fees set at $25 for adults and $20 for children, along with multiple age categories and a stroller division, was meant to lower barriers to participation and encourage families and older residents to join.
Dr. Elizondo said he organized the walk because he enjoys helping people stay healthy and wanted to get more residents moving. “I tell people movement is the fountain of youth. It’s so true. My oldest patient is 100 years old,” he said. Organizers designated donations from the event to The Purple Door, and they listed an email contact for registration and information at info@elizondomd.com.
The event reinforced walking as a practical public health strategy in a rural county where access to preventive care and safe places for exercise can be uneven. Short community events such as this one create opportunities for primary care providers to connect with patients outside the clinic and for neighbors to form supportive habits that reduce chronic disease risk. For older adults and families with young children the stroller division and age specific categories made the 5K more accessible than events focused only on competitive runners.
Beyond individual health gains the race highlighted broader community priorities. Fundraising for a local beneficiary tied physical activity to social support in the community, and the turnout illustrated local demand for more programming that combines recreation and health promotion. Long term gains depend on sustained investment in safe sidewalks parks and community based prevention programs that reach low income households and residents with limited transportation options.
The Move to Improve 5K represents a model local clinicians and organizers can replicate to promote equity in preventive health. For more information about the event or future activities contact the Elizondo Medical Group at info@elizondomd.com.
