Health Services of North Texas to Host First Annual Stride N’ Thrive 5K Event in August 2026

June 8, 2026

For Immediate Release

Health Services of North Texas to Host First Annual Stride N’ Thrive 5K Event on August 8, 2026

The Stride N’ Thrive 5K will celebrate National Health Center Week and bring the community together in support of better health for all

Denton, Texas, July 24, 2026

On August 8, 2026, Health Services of North Texas (HSNT) will host the first annual Stride N’ Thrive 5K at North Lakes Park in Denton. Featuring a 5K race, shorter “Fun Run,” local vendors, and entertainment, the event will round out HSNT’s celebration of National Health Center Week (NHCW). The event will bring together community members, local families, patients, policymakers, school districts, healthcare partners, and community stakeholders for a fun and meaningful morning focused on wellness, connection, and access to care. Proceeds from the event will benefit patient care at HSNT, helping provide quality, compassionate care to thousands of individuals and families across the North Texas region.

Every August, the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) sponsors National Health Center Week (NHCW) to commemorate and increase awareness of America’s over 1,500 Community Health Centers (CHCs). With a mission to make quality, affordable care available to everyone, health centers like HSNT save lives on the front lines of our nation’s most pressing public health challenges.

CHCs like HSNT serve 52 million people, or 1 in 7 Americans, including 1 in 3 people in rural communities. According to a report by the National Association of Community Health Centers, this care reaches 10 million children, 4.1 million seniors, more than 400,000 veterans, and 1.5 million people experiencing homelessness each year.

“At HSNT, we believe that everyone deserves access to care that helps them lead healthy, thriving lives. Each year, our providers and staff serve thousands of patients through primary care, pediatrics, women’s health, behavioral health, and infectious disease services. Events like the Stride n’ Thrive 5K help raise awareness of this work while promoting healthy lifestyles and strengthening the bonds within our community,” said HSNT CEO Doreen Rue.

Community Health Centers deliver care to 14% of the U.S. population for just 1% of national health spending, and studies show that care delivered at a CHC costs $800 to $1,400 less per patient each year than comparable care somewhere else. We keep patients out of emergency rooms and hospital beds, saving the health care system billions of dollars annually.

None of this happens without strong community and public support. Through events like the first annual Stride N’ Thrive 5K, our community comes together to show that we believe every person deserves access to quality, compassionate medical care.

HSNT is honored to join NACHC in uplifting the health care providers, team members and patients of community health centers through this celebration.

To register for the Stride N’ Thrive 5K, please visit our race website.

You can learn more about National Health Center Week at www.healthcenterweek.org.