Early bird registration closes July 31 for 24th annual walk/run 5K in Redmond

It’s time to dust off your pink tutus and superhero capes and get ready for the 24^th annual Heaven Can Wait event. Registration is now open for the popular breast cancer fundraiser and 5K, set to take place in Redmond on Sunday, Oct 1. The family-friendly walk/run raises money for Sara’s Project, which helps provide vital support services to people in Central Oregon with breast cancer.

“The theme for this year is Superheroes because we want to highlight the strength, fortitude and inspiration that we see in our breast cancer community. From the survivors to the family members to the providers, Heaven Can Wait is about camaraderie and coming together as a community,” said Jenny O’Bryan, Executive Director for St. Charles Foundation. “It’s also a fun event, with attendees donning costumes and face paint and generally having a great time, laughing and celebrating together.” 

This year’s event will kick off at Redmond High School’s football stadium and will wind through Dry Canyon. Dogs are not permitted at the event.

Early bird registration is $30 and ends July 31. Registration through Sept. 26 is $35 and through Oct. 1 is $40. Individuals can sign up online at HeavenCanWait.org or in-person at Redmond’s First Friday art walks (at Harcourts The Garner Group Real Estate). Individuals can also sign up to volunteer to support the event.

About St. Charles Health System

St. Charles Health System, Inc., headquartered in Bend, Ore., owns and operates St. Charles Bend, Madras, Prineville and Redmond. It also owns family care clinics in Bend, Madras, Prineville, Redmond, La Pine and Sisters. St. Charles is a private, nonprofit Oregon corporation and is the largest employer in Central Oregon with more than 4,500 caregivers. In addition, there are more than 350 active medical staff members and nearly 200 visiting medical staff members who partner with the health system to provide a wide range of care and service to our communities.

Marinade:

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Kabob items:

• 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
• Red, orange and green bell peppers (chopped into 1-inch squares)
• Mushrooms
• Zucchini and/or yellow squash (sliced into coins, approx. half-inch thick)
• Red onion (cut large enough to skewer onto kabobs)
• Skewers for grilling (if using wooden skewers, be sure to soak them in water prior to assembling kabobs)

Instructions:

Simply combine all marinade ingredients into bowl, mix well, then divide into two separate gallon-size resealable plastic bags. Add the chicken to one and the veggies to the other, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours prior to grilling (overnight is best).

1. When you're ready to cook the kabobs, preheat your grill to medium-high heat.
2. While the grill is heating, thread the chicken cubes and veggies onto skewers, making sure you separate each chicken cube by a few veggies as you go.
3. Place the skewers on the preheated grill and cook for about 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through and slightly charred on the edges.
4. Once cooked, remove the skewers from the grill and let them rest for a few minutes.
5. Serve the chicken kabobs with your favorite sides, such as rice or a fresh salad.

Happy grilling!
 

Steve Gordon, MD, MPP, FACP
President and CEO, St. Charles Health System

Dr. Steve Gordon is the president and CEO of St. Charles Health System. He completed his internal medicine training at Massachusetts General Hospital and has a master’s in public policy from Harvard University. Dr. Gordon served on the St. Charles Board of Directors from 2014 to 2022. He also serves on the American Hospital Association Regional Policy Board and the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems Board. He has more than three decades of experience in health care as a former provider, educator and executive.

Mike Vinovich, MBA 
Vice President, Revenue Cycle

Mike Vinovich, vice president of revenue cycle for St. Charles, oversees the single billing office, health information management, patient access, revenue integrity, and payer credentialing. He has a bachelor’s degree in marketing and a master’s in finance, both from Ball State University in Muncie, Ind.

Matt Swafford
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

Matt Swafford joined St. Charles as senior vice president and chief financial officer in 2021. He holds a bachelor’s degree in arts administration from Northwestern University in Chicago with an emphasis on management, organizational administration, finance, and orchestral performance. Prior to working for St. Charles, Swafford had a three-decade career as both a financial advisor at Melio & Company and investment banker at Morgan Stanley, UBS, and Kidder Peabody, providing financing, strategic and capital advisory services to a variety of nonprofit health care systems across the United States.

Todd Shields, MBA
Vice President, Hospital Administrator St. Charles Madras and Prineville

Todd Shields is the hospital administrator for St. Charles’ critical access hospitals in Madras and Prineville. He oversees daily operations of the two hospitals as well as the health system’s urgent care clinics, and he is the liaison to St. Charles’ community partners and imaging joint ventures. Shields has a bachelor’s degree in medical imaging, a master’s in business administration, and maintains his licensing as a technologist. He is also president of the Southern Oregon Linen Services board of directors and serves on the board of the Oregon Society of Healthcare Executives.

Emily Salmon, MS
Vice President, Whole Person Care and Community Health

Emily Salmon serves as St. Charles’ vice president of whole person care and community health. She oversees primary care, behavioral health, home health, hospice, palliative care, and value-based programs, including the local coordinated care organization, accountable care organization, and the organization’s self-funded health plan. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Warner Pacific University and a Master of Science in health care transformation from the University of Texas at Austin’s Value Institute for Health and Care.

Mike Richards, MBA
Vice President, Business Development

Mike Richards serves as the vice president of business development for St. Charles. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Oregon State University and a master’s in health policy and administration from Washington State University. His background is in finance and medical group management. Prior to joining St. Charles, Richards worked at Providence Health System in Washington.

Kayley Mendenhall
Vice President, Strategic Communications

Kayley Mendenhall is the vice president of strategic communications for St. Charles. She oversees communications and marketing, community benefit and the St. Charles Foundation, and she supports government affairs work for the organization. She holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental journalism from Western Washington University in Bellingham, Wash., and started her career as a newspaper journalist. Having joined St. Charles in 2007, Mendenhall brings nearly two decades of health care-specific communication experience to her role.

Christy McLeod
Senior Vice President, Specialty Service Lines

Christy McLeod oversees St. Charles' surgical, trauma and heart service lines and all surgical and procedural areas, including operating rooms, medical diagnostic unit and cardiac catheterization labs as well as outpatient clinical practices for cardiology and surgical services. She also oversees cancer, women's and children's services along with orthopedics, neurosurgery and physiatry.

McLeod earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Ohio University, majoring in international business and marketing. Prior to joining St. Charles, she held senior leadership positions with The Center for Orthopedic and Neurosurgical Care and Bend Memorial Clinic. Before she worked in health care, she was vice president of marketing for the International Olympic Committee, managing a worldwide sponsorship program and working on seven Olympic Games.