With the weather warming up, it seems as if there is a charity race almost every weekend.
This gives runners, walkers and those who want to benefit local causes many options this spring.Alicia Chatman, co-race chair for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Baton Rouge, said almost 10,000 people participated in this year’s run on March 7.”This year was monumental,” Chatman said. “It was our biggest race ever.”Race for the Cure is a national corporation and has foundations in many cities. Nancy Brinker, Komen’s sister, founded the Susan G. Komen branch.”The Komen Foundation is on the premise of Nancy and Susan,” Chatman said. “Susan died when she was 36 of breast cancer. [Nancy] promised her sister she would do everything she could to find a cure.”This was the 13th year for the foundation, and it counts every year a success.”The cause itself is so personal,” Chatman said. “But not all [participants] are survivors. It’s the families of survivors, doctors, nurses. They all come out.”The funds raised by the race are donated to benefit local efforts.”Seventy-five percent of proceeds go to the community,” Chatman said. “We fund education, people who are uninsured and those who need assistance.”The rest of the money raised goes to the Race’s headquarters in Dallas, Texas, for research funding. The Providence Corporate Cup is another local race that raises money and promotes wellness. Providence Engineering reincarnated the race two years ago.”The race has been around for about 25 years,” said Rich Major, senior managing partner of Providence Engineering. “The Business Report started it, and an individual bought the rights and ran it for about 10 years.”Major said the race was “dormant” for four years before Providence bought it and made it a non-profit function with a twist.”Most people just go out and run,” Major said. “But this is designed to promote corporate wellness and corporate commodity.”If a team is formed, one team member must be female and one must be older than 40 years old, making the crowd quite diverse.”It’s all over the board,” Major said. “That’s a good thing. People come out and walk, some come out with their babies and some people run the whole thing in eight minutes.”The race is a traditional 5K, but many different awards are offered as well as food and beverages.  “Several vendors will sell food and beer and drinks,” Major said. “There is also a band after the race. The band this year is The Michael Foster Project.”All profits are donated to the Big Buddy Program and the Mid-City Redevelopment Alliance. The race raised $20,000 last year for charity.”The Big Buddy program is for underprivileged kids that don’t have any guidance or leadership in their lives,” Major said. “The Mid-City Redevelopment Alliance is a nonprofit organization responsible for improving the Mid City area.”The race will be held downtown April 18 at 9 a.m. The cost to participate is $20, and registration ends April 12. Chris Swanson, communications studies senior, has participated in many runs and adventure races since his junior year of high school.”I really like the Susan G. Komen [5K],” Swanson said. “You see a lot of people out there who don’t run other races. They are out there to support it and do something good.”Swanson has also run in the Big Apple 5K and many other races around Baton Rouge.”It’s a good way to stay in shape,” Swanson said. “Some people drink and party to clear their head, but I like to get out and clear my head running.”Other races this spring include the Fat Boy 5K on Saturday, Happy’s 5K on April 4, Louisiana Dietetic Association 5K on April 20 and Fleet Feet 5K Siesta on May 1.—-Contact Ashley Norsworthy at [email protected]