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5K to benefit local charities
When participants line up for Grove City’s newest Thanksgiving 5K run/walk, they will know exactly what they are running for. Mark Sigrist, event organizer, said the inaugural Thanksgiving Wattle will offer a holiday race to benefit local charities. “My goal is to have the highest per-runner contribution to charity of any race in central Ohio,” he said. “For instance, if we have 500 runners, I want to give at least $10 per entry to charities.” Sigrist hopes that this transparency will help the race stand out and that runners will be comfortable knowing exactly how their money is being used. “Charity is the main reason people are in these races,” Sigrist said. “I think a lot of races don’t advertise this, and it’s very murky. I don’t want to be murky. I want to have our race be the benchmark for contribution to charity from the entry fee alone.” The day’s schedule doesn’t just include a 5K run/walk. A 700-yard childrens’ run promises to donate all of its $10 entry fee to the Grove City Food Pantry. While participants are running or walking, the Grove City Rave Cinema plans to charge a $1 donation or a canned good (with proceeds going to the food pantry) for a family-oriented film aimed at runners’ families. The food pantry isn’t the only charity that the event hopes to benefit. Success Beyond the Classroom is a charity that helps defray costs in the South-Western City Schools District for children who cannot pay-to-play. “The fact that we’re doing something kind of healthy, kind of energetic that’s going to help people do those same things, run track or play baseball, it has a nice broad appeal,” Sigrist said. The event begins with the childrens’ run at 8:30 a.m. (open to ages 10 and under), followed by the 5K ($32 entry fee including service fees) at 9 a.m. The race starts on Lamplighter Drive, south of Rave Cinema. Sigrist said he hopes for at least 500 runners, and with about 330 already signed up, organizers are optimistically expecting even more than their goal. For additional information, visit thanksgivingwattle.com.
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