As the fall months approached, Jennifer Baldwin, HCGH chief nursing officer, had an idea for an event that would support HCGH nurses and incorporate the community – even in a pandemic. She brought her concept of a virtual challenge race to the Howard Hospital Foundation.

“I wanted to find a way to recognize our exceptional nursing staff and to promote wellness during the winter months,” says Jennifer. “Since COVID-19 struck, our dedicated nurses have not only served tirelessly on the frontlines of the pandemic, they have become family to countless patients who were not able to have loved ones at their bedside.”

With the support of the Howard Hospital Foundation and their fundraising expertise, the planning for the first Race Across Howard County began. Funds raised through race registrations and corporate sponsorships would be used for critical hospital initiatives and to establish the HCGH Nursing Excellence Fund. This fund would support nurses’ continuing education and training, resources to promote resilience and wellness of staff, and tools to improve the quality of care and health outcomes for patients.

The virtual event was held Dec. 1-15, 2020, and nearly 400 hospital staff, friends, families, neighbors and colleagues came together to give back to HCGH while challenging themselves to get active and walk or run a 5K, half or full marathon or any distance they chose. Together they logged over 7,000 miles and most importantly, raised $63,000.

“I am truly humbled and inspired to be part of the nursing team at HCGH, and I am thrilled that our community joined me in honoring our health care heroes by supporting the Nursing Excellence Fund,” says Jennifer.