Fun Run for Charities Road Race Charges Into Rocky Mount
fun run for charities, recreation, running,
Rocky Mount runners are making big strides - for the community.
An inaugural Fun Run for Charities road race ambled into Rocky Mount on May 30, 2009, with thousands of runners and walkers participating in the outdoor event.
The run was organized by Reach Out Rocky Mount, an organization whose mission is to aid as many charities as possible whenever money-raising events take place.
“Reach Out Rocky Mount was recently formed to trumpet a mission of one city, one goal when it comes to helping all nonprofit charities,” says Lige Daughtridge, chairman of Reach Out Rocky Mount. “We organize activities such as the Fun Run so that as many charities as possible can be helped. Our goal is to get individuals and companies to contribute as much as they can, in any way that they can, to make our community that much better.”
The 2009 Fun Run featured a 15K run, 10K run, 5K run, one-mile walk and a Kids Dash for children ages 6 and younger.
“We wanted to schedule a healthy event for everyone to enjoy, plus raise lots of money for needy organizations in order to improve the quality of life in Rocky Mount,” Daughtridge says. “Any church, school, civic group and all nonprofits were eligible to apply for participation in the Fun Run and then share from the generosity.”
Reach Out Rocky Mount and the North Carolina Community Foundation reviewed each application from nonprofit organizations to determine eligibility. Reach Out Rocky Mount also solicited donations for the charities, including a $100,000 contribution from an anonymous donor. There was also a $20 admission charge for all adult runners who participated in the inaugural road race.
“Every dollar – 100 percent of donor contributions – was passed on to local charities,” Daughtridge says. “Then in July 2009, we organized an awards party to celebrate the entire festive occasion.”
Daughtridge says the run will now continue on an annual basis, scheduled on the first Saturday after Memorial Day.
“All runs and walks start and end at the Imperial Centre for the Arts & Sciences, with participants proceeding through downtown Rocky Mount, out toward Peachtree Street and then back downtown,” he says. “It is an interesting and scenic route.”
Daughtridge adds that the city of Rocky Mount and several other organizations backed the run in 2009, and he is hoping for even more support in 2010.
“For example, the American Red Cross provided all of the water, Gatorade and volunteer manpower at the running aid stations, and the list of such helpful organizations goes on and on,” he says. “It is a very fulfilling event for every individual and every entity involved.”
Story by Kevin Litwin
