NEWS

Running and fundraising are staples at area beaches

Gray Hughes
rghughes@dmg.gannett.com
The 2nd Annual Dewey Color Run, part of the Ten Sisters Road Race Series, was held in Dewey Beach on Saturday June 6, with several hundred entrants participating in a non-competitive run/walk that had six color stations along the way. The event benefits the Southern Delaware Therapeutic Riding Association.

The Delaware beaches are home to many things, but one that is often overshadowed by sand and sun are the many charitable races.

Almost all the races and triathlons in the area support different charitable causes.

For runners, it's created a kind of community for these events.

For the charities, it's not only a way to raise money but also a way to spread awareness for their causes.

"I know we're not the largest race at the beach during the summer," said Tom Waite, the area director for Best Buddies Delaware, "but we hope to connect with the community to spread our message of inclusion year after year."

It is organizations such as Best Buddies, which holds its fifth annual "Dewey Beach 5K Buddy Run" on Aug. 7, that hope to capitalize on the local running culture and the success of other 5K races in the area. Local 5K races and other athletic events, such as triathlons or longer distance races, have raised upwards of $100,000, according to Barb Kursh, who helps run Races2Run, a local company that helps charities and different organizations put on races.

"It all depends on the amount of sponsors the race gets," Kursh said.

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Putting on one of the Delaware 5K races isn't as easy as it seems — or as inexpensive, according to Kursh.

"It doesn't matter where you are, there will be expenses for the race," Kursh said. "The local police do the traffic, which can cost money, and if you print 200 T-shirts for the race, that's $1,000 right there. Some places have permit fees. You need liability insurance, which is provided through the US Track and Field Association. There are awards to give out, which costs money, and fees to advertise."

Ernie Felici, who helps put on races in the Bethany area through Beach Area Focus Multisports, said the races in the area are a very large draw for charitable donations but it isn't easy to make the race successful.

"Unfortunately," Felici said, "a lot of the time the registration fee only covers putting on the event. The key is for the athletes to form teams to go out and get sponsored so that every dollar they gain can go directly to the charities."

But all of the expenses that go toward putting on a 5K pay off for charities.

"For the Bethany Beach Triathlon, which is being held Sept. 18 and goes to support local first responders, we have raised $60,000 already, maybe more," Felici said.

Waite also had high hopes for the "Dewey Beach 5K Buddy Run." The charity is hoping to raise over $15,000, which was accomplished in the year prior.

According to Waite, a lot of success for the race can be attributed to families coming to the area on vacation looking for something to do as a family after church or before they start their day on the beach.

Runners at the Beach Goes Blue 5K take off on Saturday, June 4 in Rehoboth Beach. "Beach Goes Blue" was held on Saturday June 4 in downtown Rehoboth Beach with a 5K run/walk, all-day blues music at the Bandstand with Lower Case Blues, Nothin' But Trouble Band, Blue Cat Blues Band, along with an After Dark Blue Beach Glow Light Show.

Kursh agreed.

"We have families come down and plan their vacations on when the next 'Ten Sisters' race is," she said. "We have a lot of family reunion teams that enter."

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For Felici, a large part of putting on a race is bringing the community together.

"With the triathlon, we attract people from all over the country," he said. "It brings fitness to the town of Bethany and the surrounding area but we also get the local area to help get volunteers to help put the triathlon on as well as having people from the area participate."

For the runners, the prospect of being able to contribute to charitable causes while running is an exciting prospect.

"I have been involved with nonprofits in my professional life and my personal life," said Kate McKenzie, who runs in many area 5ks, "and it doesn't matter if you are running in a big 5k for the Susan G. Komen foundation or for a local charity, it all goes to a good cause."

Even as these runners participate in 5ks, raising money for worthy causes, there is one thing that makes them come back year after year.

"I like to run and have fun," said Doug Wite, who also participates in many local area races. "I always try to pick the race that would be the most fun."

McKenzie agreed.

"There is a lot of camaraderie," she said. "They make you feel good. You feel good both mentally and physically."

rghughes@dmg.gannett.com

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