Chattanooga Times Free Press - ChattanoogaNow
Karen Lawrence Run turns 40 and everyone’s aglow
The Karen Lawrence Run turns 40 on New Year’s Eve and everyone involved is just glowing.
To pump up the anniversary celebration of this fundraiser on Monday, Dec. 31, organizers have added a new glow twist. The run’s complimentary T- shirts will have material included that glows under black l i ghts. There will be three stations along the route where r unners and walkers will receive glow- in- the- dark items. There will also be a photo backdrop t hat highlights the glowing shirts.
The Lawrence family started this New Year’s Eve run four decades ago in honor of their daughter, Karen, who at that time was battling acute lymphocytic leukemia. The 11-year- old was there to start that inaugural race; a few months later she succumbed to the disease.
The Lawrences continued to close out each year with their race in memory of their daughter — first raising funds for St. Jude Children’s Hospital, then the Ronald McDonald House of Chattanooga. The Ronald McDonald House provides accommodations for families of hospitalized children.
“The Karen Lawrence Run, for the first 35 years, supported St. Jude and raised in excess of $ 750,000. In 2014, the Lawrence family decided to choose a local charity — us,” says Jane Kaylor, executive director of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chattanooga.
“Phyllis Lawrence, Karen’s mom, has been a volunteer since the Ronald McDonald House opened in 1990,” Kaylor notes. “In the four years they have worked with us, $100,553 has been raised.”
This year’s run starts at 7 p. m. Monday night f r om t he downtown Sports Barn, 301 Market St. Participants in the 4.2K timed run head out first, followed by walkers/runners in the 2-mile fun run.
Registration, including fees, is $38.60.
Want to participate, but you’re not a runner? Register as a virtual runner with a donation to the fundraiser. Or, Kaylor says volunteers are still needed to man the glow stations along the race route from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
For more information or to be a race volunteer: 423-778-4300.