-
(ARCHIVE PHOTO | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Participants in the 5K race for the 2024 Run for the Children event take off from the starting point at Third Street and Oak Street. The event this year will be taking off at the same location Saturday, April 26.
The annual Run for the Children 10K, 5K and 1K Fun Run will return for a 20th year on the downtown square this weekend benefiting Virginia’s House and Dr. Goodall’s House.
The run will be held Saturday, April 26 with the start and finish line at Third Street and Oak Street. Start times are 7:30 a.m. for the 10K, 7:35 a.m. for the 5K and 9 a.m. for the 1K Fun Run inside the downtown square.
Race day registration and packet pickup opens at 6:30 a.m. at the race site and is available online at runsignup.com or at runforthechildrentx.org.
Trophies will be awarded to the top three male and female winners in the 10K and 5K. Age Divisions in the race are 9 and under, 10-14, 15-18, 19-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65 and over.
The awards ceremony will be held after the completion of the 1K Fun Run.
Virginia’s House, in Young County, and Dr. Goodall’s House, in Stephens County, meet the needs of abused, neglected and traumatized children through programs of prevention, advocacy and support.
The two organizations have three programs which help fight against child abuse: North Star Texas CASA, Community Advocacy Center and a mentor program.
In 19 years, the run has raised a total of $239,000 for Virginia’s House, with the run organization board presenting $18,000 last year.
Former Virginia’s House Executive Director Susie Clack said last year that the local organization appreciates all the support given through the event each year.
“Our family advocates and child advocates really appreciate it (as well as) everyone on the board does. Especially these days, everybody on my team hears me talking about all the compliance and strings attached (with funding),” Clack said. “…We are very fortunate. This is a big blessing.”
Former Graham resident Dora Cawley started the run 20 years ago after experiences with traumatized children during her second year of pediatric residency.
Cawley wanted to do something to help the victims when she later moved to Graham with her husband.
“When I went through my pediatric residency, I was seeing children who were victims of abuse and how young they could even be,” she said. “It was just horrifying, but I learned …a Child Advocacy Center was now in existence in the nation. Of course, that wasn’t even close to being in Graham yet. I was thankful that a child could go somewhere (and only have to) tell their story one time.”
Donations to Virginia’s House and Dr. Goodall’s House can also be made directly from the runsignup.com page.
