By Christine Bryant
Staff Writer
Runners and walkers are invited to don their winter gear and get into the holiday spirit while raising money for a good cause.
This year’s NC4K Reindeer Run will take place Dec. 2 beginning at Huber Park, 1520 Davidson Drive, Reynoldsburg.
Proceeds from the race, which could draw nearly 1,000 participants, go toward supporting Nellie’s Champions for Kids, a nonprofit founded by Reynoldsburg High School alumna Nellie Corriveau. The non-profit organization supports families of children with pediatric cancer.
Registration is open for the run and walk, and is open to any age.
“This is a family-friendly event, so it’s great for all ages,” said Dana Norrod, development and volunteer coordinator for NC4K. “There will even be a kids fun run to kick off the morning.”
Each year, the organization holds two major fundraising events, a gala and fashion show. The Reindeer Run, in particular, helps fund the organization’s Christmas program, which benefits kids and teens battling cancer during the holiday season.
Past 5K events have raised more than $30,000, Norrod said.
“Our gala is in the spring and our fashion show in the fall, so it just feels right to have a family-friendly event in the winter time to celebrate the holidays and to help raise funds for our families,” Norrod said.
This upcoming year will be an exciting year for Nellie’s Champions for Kids, which Norrod says continues to grow as an organization. Most recently, Corriveau passed on the executive role to Mandy Powell, though Corriveau still serves on the board of directors.
“There are a lot of great things in the works for NC4K, including a respite retreat location in Hocking Hills,” Norrod said.
Registration is available by visiting nc4k.org/reindeer-run-5k. Cost is $30 per participant in advance, and $40 on the day of the event. Parking is available near the corner of East Main Street and Davidson Drive near the Bingo Hall site.
