THE FACTS: The Krispy Kreme Challenge has reached its 6,000 participant limit.
OUR OPINION: Unless there is some insurmountable obstacle to removing it, the limit should be more than 6,000 persons, as the KKC is fundamentally a fundraiser, and limiting runners limits the amount of money raised.
After its humble beginnings six years ago, with 10 people running from the Bell Tower to the Krispy Kreme on Peace Street, downing a dozen doughnuts and running back, the Krispy Kreme Challenge has grown. This year, it already has reached its 6,000 runner capacity.
As the fundraiser has grown from its humble beginnings, the question now is why cap the burgeoning tradition at 6,000 entrants?
The KKC benefits the N.C. Children’s Hospital, draws in runners from across the nation and garnered national news coverage on ESPN in 2009. With all this in mind, isn’t the goal to get as many participants and donors as possible?
Trying to limit the KKC to N.C. State may not be the best idea. If fundraising for the Children’s Hospital is the priority, a student’s dollar is as good as anyone else’s — and students don’t always have that extra dollar, with all the costs associated with a college education these days.
Admittedly, the cap on the KKC may not be random. The Raleigh City of Oaks Marathon and Rex Healthcare Half Marathon are also capped at 6,000 participants. This may be a logistical issue pertaining to safety or costs of putting enough officers on the streets to ensure order. Police representatives were not available for contact during the wintry weekend, but it is curious why the cap is at 6,000 people for both events. A marathon is one thing — but the KKC is not a marathon, with students having to run two miles to Krispy Kreme and back. The streets do not have to be shut down across Raleigh, so the 6,000 person limit seems rather arbitrary.
Ultimately, while the Krispy Kreme Challenge is becoming a tradition at the University, planners and city officials need to consider the bigger issues. The publicity can be an excellent springboard for drawing larger volumes of people into the area, helping local business. The Raleigh Police Department can get more officers out of the police cruisers and on the streets to build a stronger tie with the community, which can help lessen crime over the long run; and the N.C Children’s Hospital can continue to benefit from the influx of donations.
Unless there is some blatant problem that no amount of planning and cooperation can overcome, the Krispy Kreme Challenge should not be capped at 6,000 participants.
