The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

January 29, 2013

Race, festival to celebrate health

By Sarah Plummer Register-Herald Reporter

The second annual Earth Day 5K/10K Race and Festival on April 21 will celebrate healthy bodies, a healthy earth and a healthy understanding of individuals’ impact on the environment.

Sherrie Hunter, director of Education for Raleigh County Solid Waste Authority, said the best feedback the organizing committee received last year was that the runners felt energized and safe on the course.

Because of the high level of interest in the second annual Earth Day Race, participants can choose to run/ walk in the new 5K race.

Registration for the races will be  from 10 a.m. to noon. The 10K race will begin at 12:30 p.m. and the 5K will begin at 2 p.m.

Registration fees are $20 and participants will receive a commemorative T-shirt.

Again this year, kindergartners through fifth-graders can participate in a Fun Run to get in on the Earth Day exercise.

And just like last year, many booths, games and demonstrations will be set up to help the public remember that “every day is Earth Day,” said Hunter.

“This race and festival helps us learn how important our earth is and how to better keep it clean for our kids,” said earth-conscious volunteer Lacie Treadway. “Imagine if no one recycled. Where would our trash go? In 20 years we would all be living on landfills.”

Last year an energy-efficient washer and dryer were given away. Hunter said this year a comparable earth-friendly prize will be awarded.

In addition, one of the most anticipated events will return — Cow Chip Bingo.

Last year children of all ages cheered the cows along, hoping they would drip their chips on a square that would mean big bucks for a lucky winner.

Children’s Miracle Network will benefit from the sale of concessions.

Concord University students will be at the event helping with Kid Zone, which will be filled with relay races, hula hoops and fun games.

“We want to celebrate and protect our Mother Earth. This is a really good time to come out and celebrate the Earth and all the work you can do personally to create a cleaner, greener world,” added Hunter.

The festival will be at the YMCA Paul Cline Memorial Youth Sports Complex, at 196 Joe L. Smith Drive in Beckley. For more information, contact Hunter at 304-255-9335.

— E-mail: splummer@register-herald.com

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