The first annualRun The Bluff 12k and 5krun/walk event on Oct. 9 of last year was a bigger success than its founder and organizer had expected.
The first race of its kind to be held on Magnolia was expected to break even in its first year. But low and behold the event actually made enough of a profit that seven area schools are receiving checks worth $450 each.
Some of the schools receiving the checks include Catharine Blaine K-8, The Center School, Coe Elementary, John Hay Elementary, Lawton Elementary and McClure Middle School. The name of the seventh school was not available at press time.
The $450 checks will be given to each school’s PTA. The organizations will then decide how best to spend the money so it will have the most impact for the students.
Organizer Alex Eddings, who had spent a year puttingthe event together and facing a number of ups and downs along the way, said he wanted to thank all the volunteers and organizations that gave of their time to make the fun run and walk such a success.
“I am really proud of all the people who got involved with the race,” Eddings said. “Something like this succeeds or fails based on the level of participation of the people who are volunteering their time and effort to this event. Without everyone being engaged and involved this thing wouldn’t have gotten off the ground. This has reinstilled my faith in people.”
Eddings said he is taking some time off at the moment, but plans to start planning this year’s event very soon. He said he hopes to grow the event and then, perhaps, find an organization or individual who would like to take it over.
The October event saw 338 runners complete the 12-k section of the run and 248 runners make it through the 5-k course. There were also hundreds of walkers who took part, including entire families.
Eddings said he is proud that enough money was raised that seven schools could receive the checks.
“It may seem like a drop in the bucket to some people, but that amount of money means that some students will get a lunches they couldn’t afford before,” Eddings said. It may also mean that other students might get to use a new laptop that wasn’t available in the past.”
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