Tiffany Skinner 10/17/24 Tiffany Skinner 10/17/24

Nightmare on Nashville Street

One of our favorite parts about race timing is the chance to partner with wonderful non-profits in our area to help them raise funds for the incredible work that they are doing in our communities. One of those organizations is the Evitt Foundation based in Ringgold, Georgia. This volunteer run non-profit works to promote the welfare of children and combat hunger in North Georgia. One of their newest fundraisers is a family friendly Halloween themed 5k — Nightmare on Nashville Street. We chatted with Rachel Stockburger of the Evitt Foundation to learn more about the race.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got involved with the Evitt Foundation and this race?

I'm the PR & Advertising Coordinator for Ringgold Telephone Company. Our company helps manage the Evitt Foundation. This non-profit foundation runs solely on volunteers. We pride ourselves on creating unique fundraisers throughout the year to raise money for our foundation. Our Nightmare on Nashville Street 5k and 1 mile fun run is our fall fundraiser and has quickly become a fun event for the community to enjoy and raises money for a great cause.

For those who don't know, can you tell us about the Evitt Foundation? What do you all do and how does that impact families in the Ringgold area?

The Evitt Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) that aims to promote child welfare and reduce hunger in the North Georgia area. One of many projects that we are most known for is we host multiple grocery distributions yearly to feed families who are struggling to make ends meet.

What about the race itself? How did it come about and how does it benefit the work you all do?

Nightmare on Nashville Street is quickly becoming one of our most successful fundraisers. This will be our 2nd year hosting this race and we are anticipating hundreds of runners to come out and enjoy a spooky halloween themed run throughout downtown Ringgold. We take pride in giving our town a fun event to enjoy and the fact that 100% of the proceeds goes back to families in need in this community is just icing on the cake.

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

Runners should come out ready to enjoy a fun and memorable race! The 5k will start at 6:30 at the Ringgold Market in downtown Ringgold. We highly encourage runners to come dressed up in a costume. We will have spooky characters along the course ready to make our runner want to run a little faster. We will have a bonfire, a halloween movie, and food trucks at the finish line for families to hang out after and enjoy the evening.

Anything else you would like to share?

Come out for a great time and bring the family! This is a fun fall event that goes towards such a great cause. It's truly a win win.

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Runners interested in learning more or signing up for the race can visit the event page on the Evitt Foundation’s website or by visiting the race registration page on terrarunning.com.

Tiffany Skinner 9/19/24 Tiffany Skinner 9/19/24

The Funky Monkey Glow Run

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.