As the sun rose, community members of all ages gathered at the starting line for the LAM Research Heart & Soles Run on April 27. In its eleventh year, runners, walkers, adults and children participated in the 5K, 10K, and kids run to support youth throughout the county.
The run benefits projects and programs relevant to student health. Beneficiaries include the Boys and Girls Clubs of Silicon Valley, Santa Clara County Office of Education’s (SCCOE) Youth Health & Wellness, and the YMCA’s year-round Healthy Eating & Physical Activity (HEPA). Since its founding, the race has raised more than $800,000 for the organizations.
Wellness centers provide an opportunity for students to receive timely access to mental health services through accessible universal wellness centers on school campuses. Access to wellness centers allows youth to benefit from prevention and early intervention, peer support, and promoting wellness. These centers also serve as ongoing professional development and access to information for teachers and staff to support physical, social, emotional, and mental wellness activities for students throughout the year.
“The Santa Clara County Office of Education supports the development and expansion of wellness centers throughout the county,” said County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary Ann Dewan. “The participants, organizers, sponsors, and volunteers are making a difference on behalf of youth and I am immensely grateful for their collaboration and partnership.”
What started as a fun run to raise money for school salad bars has morphed into a community run that benefits organizations supporting local youth. The Silicon Valley Leadership Group Foundation and the SCCOE established the Lam Research Heart & Soles Run in partnership with multi-year sponsor Lam Research. From 2014 to 2016 the races generated more than $400,000 to fund nearly 200 salad bars in local schools throughout Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties.
“At the Silicon Valley Leadership Group Foundation we support and commend the SCCOE’s mission to provide great opportunities for all of our region’s youth,” said SVLG Foundation Managing Director Chris Weiler. “The driving force of Silicon Valley success is creative minds, great skills, and an entrepreneurial spirit. We can promote and support these attributes in our region’s children by ensuring they have safe supportive schools, opportunities to exercise and healthier food choices.”
In the past two years, the SCCOE Youth Health and Wellness Department received $10,000. The SCCOE won first place in the large team division category of the corporate challenge in 2023 and 2024 with over 50 employees and their families registering for the race. In recent years, Lam Research has offered 125 free registrations for Santa Clara County youth to help promote the importance of physical and mental health among their peers.
Photos courtesy of: John Dyke @FORKSANDTRAILS