Courtesy Photo Steve, left, and Dana Hand pose outside of MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena in this undated photo provided by the hospital.

ALPENA — Steve and Dana Hand have been selected as this year’s honorary chairs for the MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena Development Council’s 24th annual Aliferis Memorial Race.

The event includes a half-marathon, 5K, bike races, and family-friendly run/walk events. The Hands were chosen for their commitment to providing excellent medical care to the community and leading by example in living healthy lifestyles.

Steve and Dana both have long-standing ties to MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena. Dana’s mother spent most of her career working for the Medical Center and Dana followed suit. Both have since retired from the Medical Center in Alpena after decades of service.

Steve started with the Medical Center as a nuclear medicine technologist in 1999 and is now the manager for Imaging Services.

Part of Steve’s role as manager includes overseeing the ongoing renovations to the Breast Health Suite. A major feature of the suite’s redesign will be the installation of a new, dedicated ultrasound system. Part of the funds raised from this year’s Aliferis race will be directed toward the cost of the $150,000 machine. Proceeds from the race traditionally benefit the Aliferis Scholarship Fund, the Alpena Cancer Center, patient enhancement projects, and new technology, making the machine a fitting match.

“I am really grateful to our community for how generous they’ve been to the Imaging Department and the Alpena Cancer Center over the years, both through the Aliferis Race, other events, and individual donations,” Steve said. “Donor support helps us to offer the latest treatments and technologies to our patients. We are grateful that some of the funds from this year’s Aliferis race will assist in purchasing a truly life-saving piece of equipment — the new ultrasound system for the Breast Health Suite. The Aliferis race is a great chance for our community to come together and engage in healthy activity while also helping to support our local medical center and its patients.”

When discussing their careers, Steve and Dana both noted their time working with Dr. Aliferis.

“The continued commitment to host this event to honor Dr. Aliferis’ legacy speaks volumes about who he was and how awesome our community is,” Steve said. “It’s really inspirational. We have been participating in Aliferis events for many years. We have done both the bike tours and the 5K run/walk. We enjoy it every year and are excited to be more involved this time around.”

The Hands both live active lifestyles and enjoy the great outdoors.

“Northern Michigan is a beautiful place to live and it has so much to offer,” Steve said. “We are really lucky to live here. We both enjoy many different outdoor activities, regardless of the season. We mountain bike, kayak, paddleboard, and hike in the warmer months. Then, in the winters, we enjoy cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. We want everyone to experience all our area has to offer. For this reason, we are members of the Thunder Bay Trails Association, which maintains and promotes our many local trail systems. Dana is a member of the Alpena Plaza Pool. She loves to swim and takes classes every week. We believe being involved with our community is important.”

The 24th annual Aliferis Race, hosted by the Business Relations Committee of MyMichigan Health Foundation’s Alpena Development Council, will be held Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. Race headquarters and registration will be located under the tent on the corner of Chisholm Street (U.S.-23) and Johnson Street, on the campus of MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena.

This year’s race includes a half-marathon, an 18.5-mile bike race, a 6.5-mile bike tour, a 5K run/walk, and the family-friendly 1-mile run/walk. Event registration fees range from $20 to $35 per person, per event. Those who register will receive a T-shirt and a chance to win several prizes, which will be drawn during the awards ceremony after the race. Individuals must be present to win.

Those interested in race registration may visit mymichigan.org/race. Those with additional questions may contact Ann Diamond, director, MyMichigan Health Foundation, at 989-356-7738 or ann.diamond@mymichigan.org.