Jed H. Pitcher, president of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Utah, will be handing out drinks - of water - to participants in the 13th annual Salt Lake Classic and Sports Festival Saturday, May 26, from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
This is the third year Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Utah has been the major sponsor of this event, said J. Kevin Bischoff, assistant vice president for public relations and advertising. He believes the Salt Lake Classic is a perfect event for the health insurance company to sponsor.The main idea is to encourage physical fitness, Bischoff said, because the more people become physically fit the less Blue Cross and Blue Shield will have to pay in benefits. And the less in benefits the company pays, the less the company will charge customers in premiums.
With the cost of health care escalating at a rapid rate, any reduction in health care premiums is welcome, he said.
This event also allows Blue Cross and Blue Shield employees to participate and this year there will be 120 of them along the race courses handing out an estimated 18,000 glasses of water to the runners in the 5K and 10K races. He believes the race also promotes community involvement.
In addition to the races, which start at the Brigham Young Monument and end at Liberty Park, there will be a double sand volleyball tournament, junior challenger tennis tournament, a flying disk exhibition, running clinics and a sports festival in the park featuring food, live entertainment, sports and health information.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield will have a booth where blood pressure and fat content can be checked free, Bischoff said.
The event is directed by the Salt Lake City Parks and Recreation Department and contributing sponsors are KALL Radio, Sports Guide, Gart Brothers and KSTU, Channel 13.