Do It For the Kids 5k

Kids at the Boys and Girls Club designed the 5k shirt!

Fall race season is very quickly approaching and this year we have quite a few new offerings for runners and walkers to choose from. One of those races is the Do It For the Kids 5k benefiting the Boys and Girls Club of the Ocoee Region and put by River Counties Association of Realtors. At Terra Running, it is no surprise that we love races, but we especially love races that benefit worthy causes which is exactly what this one does! We chatted with Michael Parent of River Counties Association of Realtors to learn more about this brand new 5k.
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Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got involved with the Do it for the Kids 5k?

I am currently the CEO for River Counties Association of REALTORS® and this event came about through our Community Outreach committee.  This committee is tasked with organizing events that are designed to engage the county and provide assitance where needed.  We provide scholarships to local students, organize a REALTOR® volunteer week assiting in various projects of need throughout the community, volunteer to assist Habitat for Humanity with their local builds, etc.

What about the race itself? It is my understanding that this is a new 5k this year. How did it come about and how does it benefit the work you all do?

This race idea came about to help the community and the committee overwhelming approved the Boys and Girls Club of the Ocoee region as the beneficiary of any proceeds raised through the 5k.  This is our inaugural year wtih the 5k and we felt it is something that everyone in the community can participate in.  This is a fun run/walk; we want everyone to feel included and come out to complete the 5k in any way that they feel comfortable. We also created the opportunity for the Boys and Girls of the club to submit drawings for the race logo. We received those entries in July and the committee decided on the winner which is the race’s logo.

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

On race day expect to come out and have fun. Mix 104.1 will be there to start off our race and get everyone pumped up to make a difference.  The race is being held on September 21, 2024 at the Greenway in Raider Park, on site packet pick up will start at 7am; the race officially begins at 8am. Participants can also pick up their race packets at our office the day before — Friday, September 20th — from 9am-3pm. We are located at 2070 Candies Lane NW Cleveland, TN 37312.

Anything else you would like to share?

Our REALTORS® are very appreciative of the counties around us and are always looking to giveback in any way they can.  Selling and buying a home is one of the most important steps in someones life and it is truly special to be a part of their journey.  We believe that everyone deserves to have housing and that it is a right not a privlege.  Our associaiton also strives to help those less fortunate and homeless, this is a serious issue in our nation and we will contuinue to try and help wipe it out.

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Participants can register for the race at this link or by visiting terrarunning.com. For more information on the River Counties Association of Realtors check them out online at rivercounties.com as well as their Facebook page. To learn more about the Boys and Girls Club of the Ocoee Region and to support them directly, visit them online at bgcocoee.org. You can also visit them on Facebook.

CASA Superhero 5k

We love timing races but we especially love it when they are for a great cause; the CASA Superhero 5k is the epitome of that. This fun and fast 5k is not only an awesome way to spend a Saturday morning (superhero costumes are encouraged!), it directly helps CASA assist vulnerable children in our county and beyond. We chatted with Executive Director Natalie Barrionuevo to learn more about the race a what CASA does in our community.

Can you tell us a little about yourself and your involvement with CASA?

I stepped into the Executive Director role in January of this year. Previous to that I worked as the Advocate Manager and Casemanager. I have been with CASA since 2017 and have truly enjoyed every moment of it.

Would you mind telling us about CASA (the work that you all do in the community, what the name stands for, how long have you all been around, etc.)?

CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) is a local program that works in the court system to advocate for abused and neglected children. We strive to put our volunteers at the forefront serving as advocates for the children we serve. The volunteers are the ones who go into the homes, meet with the children and speak on their behalf in the courtroom. We, as a whole, advocate for the best interest of the child we are serving. We make recommendations for services and needs in the homes that will assist in creating safe, stable environments for the children and their families. CASA has been serving Bradley County since 2010.

Can you tell us a bit about the Superhero 5k?

CASA's Annual Superhero 5k has been around since 2017; it is known as the Superhero 5k because that is what our advocates are. Many of the children we serve have no one in their lives that looks out for them. Our advocates are the superheros that come in and ensure they remain safe and in stable environments where they have the ability to thrive. Also, our donors are superheros as they choose to invest in one of the most vulnerable populations in our community. When you tie in our advocates and our donors, you create an entire community of superheros ensuring our children can thrive. This race helps ensure CASA staff can continue to support the advocates while they serve children and ensures that CASA can continue to meet the demands of the court system.

When and where is the race? How can runners sign up and how much does it cost?

The CASA 5k is going to be held May 14, 2022 at 8am at Greenway Park in Cleveland TN. You can sign up by going to casabp.org/5k and registering for the race. The race is 25.00.

Anything else that you would want to share?

CASA is in need of new advocates. This year has brought an increased set of challenges with an increase in drug dependency in Cleveland comes a higher case load of child abuse and neglect. This means we are serving more children and need more volunteers to do that. If anyone is interested in volunteering they can go to casabp.org and click on volunteer. They can fill out the inteerest form and someone will be in contact with them.