Walks and runs around town
Whether it’s finding a cure for diabetes, funding cancer research or fighting poverty, there is a local outdoor event this fall for everyone. Check out our list of walks and runs happening in Hoover this month.
Friends of the Poor Walk/Run
Saturday, Sept. 27
8:30 a.m., Veterans Park
The Friends of the Poor Walk/Run began as a national program with the purpose of providing local Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) Conferences and Councils additional funds to help support their special works projects.
That philosophy continues today, with event funds being used to help local people living in poverty. SVdP helped almost 15 million people last year. The 2013 walks were held at more than 230 locations around the country, attracted more than 21,000 participants, and raised more than $2.1 million..
The 5K run and 1-mile fun walk is hosted by St. Patrick’s-Adamsville, St. Mark the Evangelist-Birmingham, Holy Infant of Prague-Trussville, and Holy Spirit-Tuscaloosa. The event includes awards, door prizes and refreshments. T-shirts will be given, while supplies last, to those donating $20 or more. Registration is from 7 to 8 a.m. on race day.
5th Annual Head Over Teal
Saturday, Sept. 27
8 a.m.-12 p.m., 601 Preserve Way
Last year more than 15,000 women died from ovarian cancer. Laura Crandall Brown, born on May 2, 1984 and passed away on December 14, 2009, is one such young woman whose life was ended much too soon as a result of the disease. The mission of the Laura Crandall Brown Ovarian Cancer Foundation is to raise funds to support research institutions that are working to develop a diagnostic test for early detection and to educate women about the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer.
In recognition of September as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month the foundation will hold its fifth annual Head Over Teal 5K and Family Fun Day. The 5K race will begin at 8 a.m. and be immediately followed by fun activities for the whole family, including face painting, an inflatable, a photo booth, and more. A blood mobile will be on site accepting blood donations for those who wish to give. The air will be filled with live music from Chuck King and his trio “The Old Fashion Rhythm Method.” The emcee of the day will be Beth Shelburne from Fox 6 News.
JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes
Sunday, Sept. 28
1-5 p.m., Veterans Park
The JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes is a charity walk held in locations all around the world. The walk raises funds for the millions of people living with and affected by type 1 diabetes (T1D). Participants, walking alone or in teams, raise money for JDRF — the largest nongovernmental funder of T1D research.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which a person’s pancreas loses the ability to produce insulin — a hormone essential to turning food into energy. It strikes both children and adults suddenly and is unrelated to diet and lifestyle. It requires constant carbohydrate counting, blood-glucose testing and lifelong dependence on injected insulin.
JDRF holds more than 200 walks across the country every year to raise money for JDRF. Locally, the Birmingham Walk to Cure Diabetes has raised $500,000 for diabetes research with more than 1,300 participants.