Meet Corewell Health's 2026 Road Warrior Lauren Holben
Our representative for the 2026 Amway River Bank Run
Lauren exemplifies courage and determination, and she’s no stranger to taking on bold challenges – like joining her college’s rowing team as a walk-on, single-handedly painting the exterior of her house, and speaking out as a survivor and advocate of mental health.
What is your role and how long have you been with Corewell Health?
I am an operations specialist and started in this role in July 2024. Prior to that I worked at Priority Health for nearly eight years in various roles.
Tell us a little about where you live and your family.
I’ve lived in the Eastown neighborhood of Grand Rapids for a decade. I consistently have at least three dogs that I foster to prepare for rescue. I painted the exterior of my house pink on a whim five years ago (as in, me, by myself on a ladder), and I’m still pleased as punch about it five years later.
What inspired you to be an advocate for mental health?
A lot of my challenges in the last five years have happened while discovering who I am. Escaping an abusive relationship, getting diagnosed with ADHD after age 30, and losing my father to a serious illness have all shown me life is too short.
Tell us why you decided to apply to be a Road Warrior.
My gut told me I could do it. I’m a big mental health advocate, and I know my own mental health takes a hit in the winter. I have been wanting to add more movement into my daily routine for my mental health. Learning how the River Bank Run program supports its Road Warriors made it much less scary. I just wanted to see someone like me, who isn’t a lifelong runner, do it, so I figured I would be the change.
What impact do you want to make as a road warrior?
I want to encourage walking, running, and moving as a community together. We can train, run and support each other to move more. And, I want people to not be afraid to try something new.
About the road warrior program
Amway River Bank Run Road Warriors are selected through a public application process and serve as representatives of the race, using their voice to promote the event through media. Corewell Health selects a team member road warrior to feature as an ambassador of our commitment to better health. Road warriors receive support from a running coach throughout the months leading up to the race and meet other road warriors at community training events to support one another.
For more information about the Amway River Bank run, contact melissa.christensen@corewellhealth.org.