From left, Jason Rolling, director of the Noquemanon Ski Marathon; Janell Larson, director of Marketing & Communications at UP Health System - Marquette and Nikki Dewald Swenson, coordinator of the Noquemanon Ski Marathon, are shown holding a check presented to the Noquemanon Ski Marathon by UPHS. (Photo courtesy of UPHS)

MARQUETTE — In conjunction with its mission of “Making Communities Healthier,” UP Health System donated $10,000 to the Noquemanon Trail Network to support the maintenance of the central U.P.’s non-motorized trails, which are home to numerous outdoor activities, including hiking, trail running, mountain biking, cross country skiing, snowshoeing and walking.

Janell Larson, director of Marketing & Communications at UPHS, presented a check to Jason Rolling, director of the Noquemanon Ski Marathon, and Nikki Dewald Swenson last Monday at UPHS.

“Our mission of health fits well with UPHS, in supporting active and healthy lifestyles,” Rolling said in a press release. “The sponsorship allows us to put the right face on the race. UPHS is a great organization doing healthy things for our community.”

The Noquemanon Ski Marathon is set to take place from this coming Friday through Sunday and can draw as many as 15,000 people to the area. The event offers participants one of the “premier point-to-point cross country ski epics in the United States,” according to organizers.

In addition to supporting the event, the contribution from UPHS will assist in the grooming efforts of the trail maintenance, such as funding the staff of professional groomers, insurance and equipment maintenance.

“We got a nasty ice and snow storm and still had 26 miles of trail that needed to be fixed just to put the race on,” Rolling said in the release. “We’re grateful to be able to rely on a strong partner to fund the maintenance efforts of the Noquemenon Trails, which assists in the support of the active lifestyles in our community. Without UPHS, it wouldn’t be possible.

“We’re very thankful that we have an organization like UP Health System in Marquette that’s willing to be partnered with an organization like ours that’s a nonprofit. They understand the mission of what we do and support it in a way that the community can benefit from it.”