Running for a cause: Run for the Children this weekend
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(THE GRAHAM LEADER | ARCHIVE PHOTO) Runners in the 5K race of the Run for the Children take off from the starting line at Third Street and Oak Street in 2023. The race this year will start and end at the same location Saturday, April 27. -
(THE GRAHAM LEADER | ARCHIVE PHOTO) Runners for the 1K Fun Run stretch as part of the Run for the Children in 2023. The 1K Fun Run will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 27. The run is held within the inside of the Graham downtown square.
The annual Run for the Children 10K, 5K and 1K Fun Run will take off on the downtown square this weekend benefiting Virginia’s House and Dr. Goodall’s House.
The run will be held Saturday, April 27 with the start and finish line at Third Street and Oak Street. Start times are 7:30 a.m. for the 10K, 7:35 a.m. for the 5K and 9 a.m. for the 1K Fun Run inside the downtown square.
There will be cash prizes for the overall 10K and 5K male and female winners. Age Divisions in the race are 9 and under, 10-14, 15-18, 19-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65 and over. The awards ceremony will be held after the completion of the 1K Fun Run.
Race day registration opens at 6:30 a.m. at the race site and is available online at active.com or at runforthechildrentx.org. Registration and packet pickup will be held at Virginia’s House from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, April 25 and on race day.
Virginia’s House, in Young County, and Dr. Goodall’s House, in Stephens County, meet the needs of abused, neglected and traumatized children through programs of prevention, advocacy and support. The two organizations have three programs which help fight against child abuse: North Star Texas CASA, CAC, and a mentor program, called REACH.
In 18 years, the run has raised a total of $221,100 for Virginia’s House, with the organization presenting the highest annual amount last year of $20,000.
Run for the Children Board President Kandice Craig, who has been a part of the event 18 of the 19 years of operation, said the event is important for supporting area children served through Virginia’s House and Dr. Goodall’s House.
“These are funds that just go right back into all these communities,” Craig said. “We try to raise as much as we can for the year so they can use it to do whatever they need to do to help the kids of our community and of the surrounding communities here.”
Former Graham resident Dora Cawley started the run 19 years ago after experiences with traumatized children during her second year of pediatric residency. She wanted to do something to help the victims when she later moved to Graham with her husband.
“There’s a need and we wish it didn’t have to be so. We hope with what we do we will help fund what Virginia’s House/Dr. Goodall’s House needs,” Cawley said during the check presentation in 2023. “We also hope to help promote awareness... so we can help promote prevention and help communities see that there is a need.”
