FALLS CHURCH, VA -- The American Industrial Hygiene Foundation (AIHF) will host its annual Fun Run during AIHce EXP, AIHA’s annual conference, in Nashville, Tennessee, on May 24, 2022. AIHF will also hold a virtual Fun Run between May 23 and June 10, for those unable to attend AIHce EXP 2022 in person.

The Fun Run was created to raise scholarship funds for students pursuing careers in industrial hygiene (IH), occupational and environmental health and safety (OEHS), and related fields. This year, AIHF’s goal is to raise $10,000. Registration costs $40 for individual participants, $170 for families of five, and $35 for “sleep-in” participants, who donate without participating in the athletic event. Individuals or families can register online on AIHce EXP 2022 website.

While onsite Fun Run attendees will complete the event in Nashville, virtual Fun Run participants will opt for either a 2.5-kilometer walk, 5-kilometer run, or 10-kilometer bike ride via a route of their choosing, track their progress using GPS apps, and submit their results to AIHF to win prizes through a raffle. The virtual AIHF Fun Run is also open to individuals who are not AIHce EXP 2022 attendees.

"The cost of college tuition is rising drastically, and attaining an OEHS degree is becoming less affordable for students," said Thursa Pecoraro, the manager of AIHF. "The AIHF Fun Run is a way for IH and OEHS professionals to give back to their community as well as support the profession’s future.”

This year’s Fun Run sponsors, which are divided into three tiers, have been instrumental in helping AIHF support IH/OEHS students in achieving their career goals. Amazon is returning as the event’s Premier Sponsor and will also fund the “Invent and Simplify” scholarships, which are given yearly to graduate or post-graduate students conducting innovative research in IH, OEHS, or a related field. Alliant Insurance and Half Draft Acres will also support the Fun Run as silver and bronze tier sponsors, respectively.

For more information on sponsoring the AIHF Fun Run, please contact Laura Cilano Garcia, AIHA’s program director for strategic partnerships.