Galen New Year's Resolution 5K in Palm Desert This Weekend

Hundreds of runners and walkers have already signed up to be part of the second annual Galen New Year’s Resolution 5K to be held December 27 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., but there’s still time to make the commitment to welcome 2015 on a high note. Joining the event is Peggy Abundiz, known as the “Running Bride,” who participates in national races across the country to raise awareness of fighting cancer for firefighters.

The race, which steps off at 8 a.m., begins and ends at Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert, The Galen and Faye Sarkowsky Sculpture Garden. As a USA Track and Field-certified Course, runners, families and enthusiasts of all ages can jump start healthy New Year’s resolutions.

Online registration is open and the last chance for in-person registration takes place the day before the event on December 26 at the museum in Palm Desert from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be on-site registration the morning of the event at 6 a.m., but runners and walkers who wait until race day may not receive one of the coveted commemorative long-sleeved race T-shirts since only a limited number of shirts have been printed. Four legged friends are invited to join and will receive a bandana while supplies last.

While this is only the second running of the Galen 5K, the race has attracted the attention of Peggy Abundiz, known as the Running Bride, who will make her way to this Palm Desert event to represent CODE 3 FOR A CURE (C3FAC), a firefighter cancer organization. Abundiz is known for saving the life of a firefighter who was dying from a rare form of cancer related to his firefighting career, and later married him in the middle of New York City’s Times Square, on ABC’s Good Morning America, in 2001. She has continued her efforts over the years to support firefighters and to raise awareness of work-related cancers, by participating in races across the country.

A free post-event community celebration follows the conclusion of the 5K, and has been expanded with museum admission, live entertainment, food and special activities in the beautiful Faye Sarkowsky Sculpture Garden from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. In addition, awards will be given by age category and finishing medals provided to the first 1,000 registrants. The cost to participate is $35 for adults, military and veterans $25, $15 for children 6-18 years old, while children 5 and under are free. For more information or to register online visit www.GalenResolution5K.com.

The Galen New Year’s Resolution 5K is produced by Klein/Clark Sports of Palm Desert to benefit ongoing education, free events and community programs at the Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert, The Galen.

Sponsors for the Galen New Year’s Resolution 5K include title sponsor Helene Galen, Harold Matzer and Donna MacMillan, along with FG Creative, Klein Clark Sports LLC, The Printing Place, Palm Springs Life Magazine, Encore Sports, The Village Inscriber, Value Cleaners, Don Diego’s restaurant, Signature Party Rentals and College of the Desert. Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert, The Galen is located at 72-567 Highway 111, on the corner of Highway 111 and El Paseo at the intersection in the Entrada del Paseo center. The museum can be reached at (760) 346-5600.



About Palm Springs Art Museum
Palm Springs Art Museum is the largest cultural institution in the Coachella Valley and includes three locations in Palm Springs and Palm Desert. The flagship building is located in downtown Palm Springs and features compelling art exhibitions, a vast >permanent collection, and the 433-seat Annenberg Theater, all in a 150,000-square foot, architecturally-significant building. Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture and Design Center, Edwards Harris Pavilion features exhibitions and programming that explore the rich topics of architecture and design. Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert is an 8,400 square foot, Silver LEED-certified building named The Galen that presents rotating exhibitions and special collections. It is surrounded by the four-acre Faye Sarkowsky Sculpture Garden featuring important sculpture works. Admission to the Palm Desert location is now free to the public, generously underwritten by Helene V. Galen. For more information, call 760-322-4800, visit www.psmuseum.org, and follow the museum on Facebook, Twitter and InstaGram.