Almost three years ago, seven people came together to start the Washington to Peoria St. Jude Run after several years of participating in the Bloomington-Normal to Peoria St. Jude Run. The committee decided that although it was fun to run through our community with the Bloomington team, Washington really needed its own run.
The Washington team has been working tirelessly to bring on runners, volunteers and sponsors to develop an event that involves the entire community, whether it’s runners and volunteers from our city or supporters to line the roads and cheer us along our way.
The Washington Run will be ran in 1 to 2 mile legs. Each leg is run at about an 11 minute-per-mile pace so that no one is left behind and we run as a group. There are runners on the road the entire time and you can do as few or as many legs as you want.
Each runner must raise a minimum of $750 for the privilege of running with our team. We start at Washington Community High School at about 11:30 a.m. on Aug. 7 and we will end at the Peoria Civic Center at 5:05 p.m. that night.
All of our legs will be marked with signs so everyone will know when and where we will be.
We have been working hard to obtain sponsors to help offset the actual run day costs so that every dollar that our runners raise goes directly to St. Jude Research Hospitals. We have also been obtaining in-kind sponsors so that we can provide food and drinks throughout the day.
The Washington Police Force have been instrumental in helping with our route and in graciously providing escorts so our runners and fellow motorists are kept safe.
Mangold Ford — Mercury and Uftring Auto Mall have also offered to provide us with vans and drivers to help shuttle our runners in between legs. We also have volunteers to help shake cans at our various stops for when the runners change legs, to help tabulate money and to help spread the word about this wonderful cause.
Several businesses have stepped forward to help. They include WRC Realtors, Michael’s, Washington Construction and Remodeling, Russell’s Cycling and Fitness, Southside Bank, PIP Printing & Marketing Services, Mangold Ford — Mercury, Five Points, Gracie’s, Team Works, Navas & Associates, Nick Lareau - Agent with Edward Jones, Ice Cream Shack, Prospect TV & Sound, Washington Veterinary Medical Clinic, Ralph’s Floor Fashions, Subway, Uftring Auto Mall and Associates in Dentistry.
