Resurrection Run set for March 30
By Matthew Stewart | (matts@thedailytimes.com)
A local church is seeking to bundle three community traits — family, fitness and altruism — into one super event: Resurrection Run 5K.
Monte Vista Baptist Church’s second annual Resurrection Run 5K is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. March 30 at Sandy Springs Park. One-mile runners and walkers will start at 8:40 a.m. The race starts on Karrow Street and runs through Maryville’s historic districts, ending with a fast downhill finish.
Same day registration and packet pick up will run from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. Registration is $20 before March 15 and $25 after March 15. Technical T-shirts will be available to everyone who preregisters and to race day registrants while supplies last.
Chip timing to be used this year
Organizers will award trophies for top runner, in addition to age group winners. They are using chip timing this year.
Coordinators will also present church participation and door prizes. All proceeds will benefit Family Promise of Blount County, a ministry serving Blount County’s homeless families.
“We’re honored to host this wonderful event for a second year,” said Jerry Mantooth, Monte Vista Baptist Church’s senior pastor. “We’re excited, because it’s a real opportunity to bring the community together. Family Promise is something that this congregation believes in strongly, and the Resurrection Run is a great way to support them.”
Monte Vista Baptist Church, which serves as a host church for the nonprofit, accommodates families once per quarter. Volunteers set up and break down areas for families who use the church’s facilities. Parishioners also financially support the nonprofit.
‘Problem in Blount’
“Homelessness is a problem in Blount County,” Mantooth said. “As Christians, we are called to minister to people, especially people who are struggling. These are families in our community, and they need people to help them. They need people to help them through difficult times, get them back on their feet and live successful lives again. We’ve partnered with local churches to help them, but we want to support them even more.”
The annual Resurrection Run 5K serves several goals, he said. “We want to educate people in the community about homelessness, and we want to make sure that something is being done about it. Anyone who supports this event is making a difference, and we’ve had a great response, so far. We seem to have touched upon something special. We’re a community that loves fitness and running and family events. Not to mention, we love to help others.”
Excitement builds
“We are so excited about this year’s 5K and fun walk,” said Kathi Parkins, Family Promise’s executive director. “Last year, the support from our community was phenomenal, and we are expecting an even greater number of participants this year. Every dollar raised stays here in Blount County to help homeless families get back on their feet. We are tremendously appreciative to Monte Vista for planning, organizing and executing this event on our behalf.”
Organizers are just getting warmed up, too.
“We’d like it to be the biggest run in Blount County,” said volunteer Chuck Blair. “The more people that we can get there, the more people that we can help. We gave $10,000 to Family Promise last year, which helped them tremendously, but we want to do more for them.”
