The Lawrence Half Marathon and 5K may have hit the wall, but a new event is ready to run even farther to help benefit uninsured and other low-income people in the community.

The Kansas Marathon, set for April 19, is a new event that organizers expect will attract 1,500 runners. The one-day event will include three races — a 5K, a half-marathon and a full marathon — with proceeds to benefit Health Care Access.

Word of the event’s formation comes soon after organizers of the Lawrence Half Marathon — formerly known as the Raintree Run — gave up their efforts to keep their event going, citing an inability to line up sponsors during the economic slowdown.

But Ryan Robinson is sprinting into the gap. The owner of Lawrence-based Sherpa Sports sees plenty of opportunity in running a marathon event, having already landed Lynn Electric as title sponsor for the Kansas Marathon in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

That makes the event’s formal name The Lynn Electric Kansas Marathon, and leaders of Health Care Access have agreed to seek out other sponsors to build even more support.

“Everybody knows times are tougher now, but that doesn’t change Health Care Access’ mission,” said Robinson, who also brought the inaugural Ironman 70.3 Kansas to Lawrence earlier this year. “All those low-income people still need health care. They still need it. That’s the cause, and we’re excited for the challenge.”

Health Care Access, a not-fot-profit clinic that serves 1,800 low-income clients and others, had been the beneficiary of the Lawrence Half Marathon for the past two years. The events had been run by Steve and Marcia Riley, and together the races generated a total of nearly $100,000 for the clinic.

“For that, we will always be grateful for our relationship with the Rileys,” said Nikki King, executive director of Health care Access.

But with the expiration of that race contract came another chance to lend the clinic’s name to a newer, longer competition — “one that has huge potential over the next few years,” King said. Proceeds will assist the clinic’s efforts to find a larger home, a process expected to gain speed during the next seven or eight months.

“This is a very big deal for us,” King said. “As the economic climate decreases, business is booming for us.”

Earlier this year Health Care Access was identified as beneficiary for the upcoming TherapyWorks Rock Chalk Run, the 5K and 10K events associated with Robinson’s 2009 Ironman 70.3 Kansas. The 2008 Rock Chalk Run generated about $10,000 for Bill Self’s Assists Foundation.