Bellin Run nears 50th anniversary

GREEN BAY – With the date of the 50th Bellin Run quickly approaching, there are several people who have been involved since its inception in 1977 — one of whom is Bellin Run Founder and Original Race Director George Kerwin.

“When the Bellin Run first started, it was only meant to be a one-time event to raise funds for our new cardio unit and to get people excited about running and improving their cardiovascular health. The first year we had over 5,000 runners, we were not sure we were prepared to handle that many runners and it has just continued to grow every year,” said Kerwin.

There were 881 participants in the Bellin Run’s inaugural race, while participation peaked in 2013 with 20,000 participants.

In the most recent Bellin Run in 2025, approximately 7,500 runners and walkers took to the course.

Aside from the avid support of the local running community, several key participants have contributed to the success and prominence of the run over the years, including 20 or so ‘Legends’ that have participated in each of the 49 races.

In addition, iconic runners are invited to participate each year — an idea that Kerwin has implemented since the first Bellin Run.

“Frank Shorter was very well known at the time, all around the world. Back when I had this idea to bring in a well-known runner we still had things like push button telephones, so I had to find a way to track him down. I just looked him up and found out he lived in Boulder, Colorado. I called Boulder and asked to be connected with Frank Shorter and just like that, I was in contact with him. I explained to him my idea for the race and spoke with him and after a while he was on board and that’s how I got him to come out for our first race,” said Kerwin.

Shorter, a popular Olympic Marathoner, won the inaugural 10K race with a time of 30:32.

It was announced earlier this year that in honor of the 50th anniversary, Shorter will be returning to the Bellin Run course.

Though everything eventually comes down to the big day in mid-June, Kerwin said that the event would not be possible without the countless volunteers and dedicated people that donate their time and energy year-round to make the race possible.

“There is a lot of planning that goes into the race. We have to have streets blocked off and clear things with the city. We have security measures and lots of planning that goes on behind the scenes. We are lucky to have a great team of people that are willing to donate their time to work on putting this together year-round. Over my time with the Bellin Run, I have seen several people come and go that were around when we started and have since stepped away or are in the process of stepping away now, and they have all been a big part of where we are today,” said Kerwin.

Even though Kerwin has since joined those that have stepped away with his retirement in 2018, he remains involved with the Bellin Run each year and continues to be an advocate for cardiovascular health and fitness.

Kerwin said that in reflecting on his nearly five-decade-long career with Bellin, he is proud to have had such a long and successful career with the same place that gave him his start in the workplace.

“I had just graduated with my business degree and was just looking for an entry level position in 1971… One came up in the housekeeping and admissions department at the hospital so I took it and I wasn’t really expecting it to turn out the way it did with my whole career. What started with working in the ‘laundry department,’ I ended up eventually becoming the President of Bellin Health about twenty years later,” said Kerwin.

Kerwin’s legacy now includes not only his time heading up the hospital, but also a lasting impact on the local fitness community with what has become a Brown County summer staple over the past 50 years — the annual Bellin Run.

The 50th annual Bellin Run will take place on June 13, 2026. To register, volunteer or for more information, visit bellinrun.com.