Organizers are seeking more donations and participants for the 13th annual Kimmswick 5K and 1-mile walk and fun run to benefit the ALS Association that will be held Saturday, July 29.
The event will begin at 8 a.m. in front of the Blue Owl Restaurant and Bakery, 6116 Second St. It also will end in front of the Blue Owl, after the 5K makes its way along the Mississippi River through Kimmswick, including around the Anheuser estate and over the Windsor Harbor Bridge, the oldest known wrought iron bridge in the state.
It cost $35 to register for the event. Those who register also may participate virtually.
Brittany Hafford Smith, ALS Association development manager, said everyone who registers online at raceroster.com is guaranteed a T-shirt.
She said participants may register in person the day of the race, but they may not receive a T-shirt, depending on availability.
The top overall female and male runners and the top fundraising team each will receive a Levee High Apple Pie from the Blue Owl. The top three female and male finishers in each age group will receive a smaller pie.
The age groups are 14 and younger; 15 to 19; 20 to 29; 30 to 39; 40 to 49; 50 to 59; 60 to 69; and 70 and older. All participants will receive a box lunch from the Blue Owl.
Organizers hope to raise $25,000 to donate to support the ALS Association’s research to find a cure for the neurodegenerative disease also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.
“We have a very ambitious goal,” said Smith.
As of July 14, the event had brought in $10,762.39, with 579 participants registered to take part in the walk and fun run.
“We have some gifts that we are expecting, and there are checks on the way coming in,” Smith said. “We are really hopeful that we will hit our goal this year. We have connected with more community members and hope to get out there in a bigger way this year.”
Smith said about 880 people took part in last year’s event and raised about $15,000 for the ALS Association.
She said organizers have been working hard to grow the event over the past three years, and their efforts have been paying off.
“We have some really energized committee members,” Smith said. “Everyone on our committee has been touched by ALS in some way. We have really strengthened the committee, and their abilities to build partnerships with the community has been remarkable the last few years.”
Smith said organizers are thankful for the Blue Owl’s help with the event.
“We really couldn’t do what we do without their support,” she said.
The Blue Owl started sponsoring the event in honor of longtime customer Nancy Ratliff, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2008. She died at age 67 in 2016.
“The race is in memory of Nancy Ratliff, who unfortunately lost her battle, but the race is for everyone affected by ALS,” Smith said.
For more information about the event, email brittany.hafford@als.org or call 314-876-6858.