The Wellness Festival exhibit area is free and open to the public from 8-11 a.m. in the Student Center, including entry to more than 40 booths with health and wellness information, screenings, product samples and refreshments.  Participants will have a chance to test their fitness, energize, learn how to take care of mind and body, receive health and safety tips and get in shape. There will be drawings for more than 50 prizes.
 
Once again featured at the Wellness Festival will be the popular 10K Race (6.2 miles) and 1-Mile Fun Run -- the largest event of its kind in St. Charles County.  A 3-Mile Walk is also an option - something for everyone, race organizers said. “The events have drawn as many as 600 runners and walkers each year as well as hundreds of other spectators and visitors to the Wellness Festival exhibits,” said Brenda Hollrah, one of the race organizers.
 
The entry fee is $15 for either the 10K Race (runners only, please), the 3-Mile Walk, or the 1-Mile Fun Run; late registration after April 20 is $20, including race-day registration.  The entry fee includes a full-color T-shirt, refreshments, and automatic entry into the drawing for prizes. New to this year is the opportunity for participants to register online for one of the run or walk event.  Online registration is available through the event Web site, www.stchas.edu/10k.
            
The 10K race begins at 7:30 a.m. and follows a route through Cottleville area roads and back to campus.  Individual age group awards will be presented, and $100 prizes will be presented to the top male and female 10K winners.  The 3-mile walk also starts at 7:30 a.m., but stays on campus. Walkers who finish will receive ribbons.
 
The 1-mile fun run starts at 9 a.m. (two consecutive heats), and is staged on campus.  It will once again feature a competition among local area elementary and middle schools -- a large traveling trophy is up for grabs, as well as a $100 gift card, to the grades K-5 and 6-8 schools with the most participants. The teams to beat this year are Hollenbeck Middle School and Dardenne Elementary School. All individual fun run finishers will receive ribbons. 
 
There will be free refreshments courtesy of Vision Vending and local food stores and Missouri American Water Company will provide two water stations for the runners.  
 
Presenting sponsors are Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital & Progress West HealthCare Center and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
 
Other supporting sponsors to date include ABChiropractic Family and Wellness, Family Chiropractic Center, Hanneke Logo Wear, LogYourRun.com, Missouri American Water Co., Mostly Bicycles, Smoothie King, and SSM St. Joseph Health Center and SSM St. Joseph Hospital West. Event proceeds will be used to fund college wellness and fitness projects.
 
For information on being a sponsor or exhibitor/vendor, call Joy Dufrain at 636-922-8628.  For a runner/walker registration form, visit the college's Web site at www.stchas.edu/10k, or call Karen Decker at 636-922-8475.                         
 
St. Charles Community College is a public, comprehensive two-year community college with associate degrees and certificate programs in the arts, business, sciences, and career-technical fields. SCC provides workforce training and community-based personal and professional development as well as cultural, recreational, and entertainment opportunities. For more information, visit www.stchas.edu.