If you had one more wish as you approached the end of life, what would that be? For Community Nursing Services hospice patient Russell Bennett, the answer was easy: the opportunity to race one more time in the St. George Marathon. During the 2025 running of the famed race through beautiful Red Rock country, Russell got the chance to do that thanks to the CNS Wish Program.
CNS Wish is a unique program that grants hospice patients the opportunity to relive a cherished memory or experience a new adventure as they near the end of life. Russell’s Wish achieved both, giving him the chance to relive his marathon days of the past while also experiencing it in a unique way: traversing the course in a custom chair generously donated by Hoyt Racing Chairs.
Russell, a patient in the CNS Layton Branch who is battling Alzheimer’s disease, was pushed along the 26.2-mile course by family friend John Moss, who donated his time to fulfill this wish. They were cheered on by more than 30 family members and friends, who were easy to spot at the finish line in their “Run for Russ” shirts.
Russell is a lifetime runner who entered his first St. George Marathon in 1979, and when he crossed the finish line this year, he joined an elite group of individuals who have been part of 40 of the Southern Utah races. Entering this year’s marathon, there were only seven runners in the Legacy Club with 40 or more appearances – Russell became the eighth.
Making the 40th appearance even more special, Russell was joined by several family members on the 26.2-mile journey, including son Steven who was competing in his first St. George Marathon.
In addition to Hoyt Racing Chairs and Moss, Community Nursing Services thanks the CNS St. George Branch team for their hard work in making this a wish come true for Russell and his family.
Check out Fox 13’s story about Russell’s Wish: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rq2cUSmXheY