"The mission of Men of Iron is to change a culture one man at a time through one-on-one mentorship, which focuses on the Core Five: faith, family, friends, fitness and finances," said Josh Henson, vice president of generosity for the Manheim-based organization.

To help people meet the fitness goal, as well as provide opportunities for fellowship, the nonprofit will host its first Men of Iron 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, March 15. The event will be held at the Junction Center, 1875 Junction Road, Manheim. Day-of registration will begin at 7:45 a.m., and the race will start at 9 a.m.

"We wanted to create an event for the community that would give people an opportunity to learn more about Men of Iron and what we do," said Steve Glick, director of marketing, explaining the impetus for this inaugural race. "We spent some time brainstorming and decided a 5K is great because we hope to not only have runners and walkers participate, but also hope they bring their families along to cheer them on. This would give us the opportunity to connect with families in Manheim and the surrounding community."

The race will offer opportunities for anyone who is interested in participating, Henson said.

"This is an accessible event for every fitness level," he shared. "Come out and meet some great people, get some exercise or scratch your competitive itch and hear about an organization that is changing lives and impacting families."

After the race, people are encouraged to stick around for food and fellowship.

"We are working hard to secure post-race vendors, but we will definitely have both coffee and food available to purchase for post-race runners and spectators too," said Christine Lehman, events coordinator. "We will also have fruit and additional water available for our runners once they finish the course."

Men of Iron began in 2006 at Victory Church in Lancaster. At the time, the organization had 20 members - 10 proteges and 10 mentors. The organization's focus from day one has been on mentorship, with proteges and mentors meeting face-to-face to encourage accountability and promote spiritual growth.

Now headquartered in Manheim, Men of Iron has impacted 3,500 men in southcentral Pennsylvania, as well as in North Carolina and Florida.

"Many of our resources have been used across the country," shared Lehman, "from our free online devotionals to our small-group-based men's ministry materials."

Glick encourages men who are interested to learn more about the organization.

"Men of Iron is for any man who wants to grow as a husband, father and leader," he said. "Through free resources, small groups and one-to-one mentorship, we equip men to know God and know their purpose. We would love to help any man out there take their next step."

An easy first step, said Henson, is registering for the 5K.

"Men of Iron is a nonprofit faith-based organization that relies on the support of like-minded partners," he said. "Proceeds from the event will help us operationally expand our impact."

Lehman hopes for a good turnout for the race and is excited about the opportunity to share the organization's mission.

"Men of Iron is committed to changing a culture, one man at a time," she said. "It's our mission, and we take that responsibility seriously. We work hard to intentionally create products and services to equip men to become godly leaders in their homes, their place of employment and their communities. We look forward to making connections with more families in our community and invite everyone to join us for our inaugural 5K."

Preregistration for the race will end on Wednesday, March 12. For more information, visit https://menofiron.org/5k.