Women’s Club hosts eighth Running Bear 5K Run/Walk
From staff reports
Join the Glen Arbor Women’s Club as it hosts the eighth annual Running Bear 5K Run/Walk and ½ Mile Kids’ Run on Tuesday, July 22nd. This is a favorite event for local residents and visitors. The 5K is open to everyone. You can run or walk, so young runners and seniors can both take part. The addition of the ½ Mile Kids’ Run makes this a family affair. The little ones get to run with the Bear and take home a ribbon, a coupon for an ice cream cone from Riverfront Pizza and a coupon for a game of miniature golf at Dale’s of Glen Arbor.
The main focus of this event is to earn dollars for scholarships for high school seniors. This year the Women’s Club gave out five $2,000 scholarships. These students are amazing. Alex Bennett will attend Kenyon College in Ohio to major in political science with minors in Spanish and social justice. He plans to continue on to law school. Rebecca Brown will attend Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City to study Physical Therapy. Molly Flerlage will attend Macalester College in Minnesota and will focus on environmental studies. Samantha Purifoy will attend George Fox University in Oregon to study elementary education and international development. She wants to teach English as a Second Language. Emily Sherwood will attend Sewanee, the University of the South in Tennessee to also focus on environmental studies. It is rewarding for the Women’s Club to have helped these students realize their goals and each of you participating in this Run helps do this.
The event is staged in front of Cherry Republic in Glen Arbor. The Run will leave from the corner of Lake and State Streets at 9 a.m. The Kids’ Run will follow at 9:05 a.m. The event will conclude back at Cherry Republic for an “After Run Celebration.”
Be on hand at 8:40 a.m. for a warm-up for runners and walkers by Lorie Osinski, trainer and pilates instructor from Lorie’s Pilates in the Village Sampler Plaza. Local entertainers Pat Niemisto and John Kumjian from New Third Coast, will open the Run with the National Anthem. The mascot, Running Bear, will be on hand to cheer on all the runners and charm the children. He loves his photo shoots.
The After Run Celebration will include an announcement of the winners. There will be a male and female overall race winner and first- and second-place in 10 age categories with medals and prizes for each from Cherry Republic and Crystal River Outfitters and the Cyclery. Best yet, there will be lots of great food and, last but not least, a drawing for more than 50 raffle prizes. Everyone entered in the 5K is eligible, but you must be present to win. The prizes are fantastic and include a get-a-way weekend at The Homestead, dinners from local restaurants and other prizes from area merchants.
Start a family tradition and join “The Running Bear Run”. The cost is $15 for the 5K Run/Walk ($18 the day of the Run) and $5 for the Kids’ Run.
You are encouraged to register early by going online at RunningBearRun.com. Registration forms are also available in Glen Arbor at Cherry Republic, the M22 Store and Leelanau Vacation Rentals or in Traverse City at Cherry Republic and Running Fit. An early registration will also take place at the Glen Arbor Township Hall from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Monday, July 21st. Pre-registered runners can pick up their bibs here as well.
For more information, visit RunningBearRun.com or call 231-334-7363.
Please come out and enjoy this morning of fun in beautiful Glen Arbor.
