ELIZABETHTOWN — The third annual Elizabethtown Rotary Club 8K Trail Run and Walk to benefit the USO of North Carolina is set for Saturday, April 16, at 8:30 a.m. at the Brown’s Creek Nature Park and Bike Trail and is sponsored by Ford of Clinton and Healthworks Fitness and Wellness.
“We are very pleased to partner with the USO of NC for our 8K Trail Run. The event is going to be great for our community because we are expecting a large number of soldiers from Ft. Bragg to participate in the event which will give us an opportunity to showcase our town,” said Rotarian Event Chairman Eddie Madden. “It is also going to be great because we will be raising money for soldiers and their families that need our support. Our community has a tremendous opportunity to show our appreciation for the USO and I hope that every citizen and business owner will rise to the occasion and make them each of them feel welcome when they roll into town on April 16th.”
The club’s goal is to raise $15,000 for the USO of NC and the Elizabethtown Rotary Club needs your help in meeting this commitment.
USO of North Carolina was founded in 1941 and serves the armed forces personnel stationed in North Carolina and provides support for their families. The USO-NC provides services to military personnel such as assistance with Rack Packs, care packages, deployments and homecomings. The USO-NC also offers a variety of support services and programs to military families who are left behind during deployments and experiencing such things as emotional, psychological and financial stresses.
With veterans counted among their membership, the Elizabethtown Rotary Club understands what it means to military families to have that support network from USO-NC when they are away from home. The club is proud and excited to have this opportunity to give back to our men and women in uniform.
“Elizabethtown Rotary is excited to have this opportunity to support the USO with its efforts to support our troops by hosting the 8K Trail Run. We are pleased to invite race participants from near and far to experience first-hand the beautiful Brown’s Creek Nature Trail and Bike Park located right here in Elizabethtown while helping our club achieve this goal!,” said President Renee Horton.
The event is held each year at the beautiful Brown’s Creek Nature Trail and Bike Park, located at 1910 East Broad Street in Elizabethtown, which features about 6 miles of mountain biking and hiking trails. The park features a winding creek through a hardwood forest setting. Ample parking is available at the park.
Registration for the race may be done online at www.elizabethtownrotary8K.org or applications can be obtained at Healthworks Fitness and Wellness located at 1001 West Broad Street in
Elizabethtown. Registration is $25 per person. There will be awards given for first, second and third place in the men’s and women’s and relay team divisions.
Joy the Clown will be attending this year’s event and there will also be an area for children sponsored by the Elizabethtown Fire Department. There will be games and other activities for children who are too young to compete on the course and there will be awards given.
There will also be DJ entertainment and food and drinks will be available.
Registration packets for the race may be picked up on Friday, April 15, at the Cape Fear Farmer’s Market in Elizabethtown, or on the morning of the event, Saturday, April 16, at 7:30 am. The race will begin promptly at 8:30 am.