Are you ready for a “glow up?” We have the perfect race for you!

Continuing our series highlighting races we are timing this fall, we chatted with Cindy Horton, Executive Director of Rc3 — Rhea County Community Center — and the race director of the annual Funky Monkey Glow Run in Dayton, Tennessee.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got involved with the Rhea County Community Center? 

I am the Executive Director of Rc3 and have been since its beginning in January of 2016. We were the Rhea Family YMCA for 30+ years prior to the Y of Metro Chattanooga’s decision to close our branch December 31, 2015. I moved to Dayton in 2002 with my husband and 2 girls for him to begin his medical practice. I was a Physical Therapist and fell quickly into teaching group exercise classes and then onto the board for the next 12 years as either a member or the chair. 

For those who don't know, can you tell us about Rc3? What do you all do and how does that impact families of Rhea County?

See above plus- Our mission is TO BUILD A HEALTHY COMMUNITY WITH CHRIST AS OUR CORNERSTONE. We offer financial assistance for everything!  No one is ever turned away due to financial issues. We offer several free programs for children, families, and senior citizens. We offer Silver Sneaker classes and tons of GroupX classes as well as Childwatch so parents and grandparents can workout. We have after-school programs, summer camps, and sports camps, host multiple youth sports programs, and many community health initiatives. 

What about the race itself? With a name like Funky Monkey Glow Run, it has to be fun! How did it come about and how does it benefit the work you all do?

The race. Ha! I came up with it while in the shower over 10 years ago:). Monkey, of course, in homage to the Scope’s Monkey Trial that occurred her in Dayton in the 1920s…. Funky because glow, etc. We have music, glow gear, confetti, pizza, bananas, popcorn, and cotton candy. The money raised goes towards our Strong Community Campaign which funds our financials assistance and free programs.

What should runners expect on race day? Where is the race, when does it start, and is there anything else unique about it?

The race takes place on Friday evening, October 4 at 8pm, starting and ending at Rc3 in Dayton. We love for participants to come in their funkiest glow gear! 5k runners receive a long sleeve race t-shirt and 1 mile runners earn a short sleeve shirt. Medals for all finishers and place medals for the 5K! Place medals for 12 and under / 50+ 1 milers. Strollers and walkers welcome!

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Runners can sign up for the Funky Monkey Glow Run by visiting the sign up page. For more information on the race, visit the event page on Rc3’s website.