Race sponsor Chari Buckner with race director Bill Estes
photo by Kinsley Wilman
Lee University and downtown Cleveland will host the 65 Roses 5K and Great Strides Walk on Saturday, April 12. This will be the 14th year for the walk and 12th year for the 65 Roses 5K. Over the past 13 years, this event has raised $631,658 for research leading to a cure of cystic fibrosis, a chronic disease affecting the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States (70,000 worldwide).
Ralph Buckner Funeral Home & Crematory was the original sponsor for the race 12 years ago and has continued to be the lead sponsor of the 5K every year since. All paid participants will receive technical running socks, and a cotton shirt will be at the finish line for the first 750 finishers.
There will be a pasta dinner on Friday, April 11, at 6 p.m., in the Great Room of Lee’s Math & Science Complex. Race registrants wanting to pick up their packet and goody bag can do so at that time. Tickets for the dinner are $10 and can be purchased at the door.
The race will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday with a 1K Fun Run starting at 9:45 a.m. The Great Strides walk starts promptly at 10 a.m. For more information, to register, or to join the Facebook page, please visit http://www.leeuniversity.edu/65roses.
“We are looking forward to the best year yet,” said Bill Estes, race director.
This year’s race will follow the same route through the Historic District of Cleveland with timing provided by the Chattanooga Track Club. There will be water provided on the course, along with fruit, bagels, and juices at the staging area.
Early registration is $30 for the race and $12 for the Fun Run; registration the day of the race will be $35 and $15 for the Fun Run. Awards will be given to the top female and male overall, in addition to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place male and female runners in 12 different age divisions.
“I’m often asked what ‘65 Roses’ means,” said Mr. Estes. “When children are diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis they are often unable to pronounce the disease and it comes out, ‘sixty-five roses.’ This moniker has been adopted by the CF Foundation since its inception.”
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is a nonprofit donor-supported organization dedicated to attacking cystic fibrosis from every angle. Its focus is to support the development of new drugs to fight the disease, improve the quality of life for those with CF, and ultimately to find a cure. During these past 13 years the average lifespan of CF patients has risen over 10 years, and a true miracle drug was approved - Kalydeco. For more information about the CFF, visit www.cff.org.
2013 65 Roses 5K runners heading down Parker Street
photo by Mike Wesson