Participants run 350 miles, collect donations along the way
By Chris Fish
cfish@hometownnewsol.com
MELBOURNE -- Athletes participating in the Florida-based "Run for Life" will be stopping in Brevard County on Feb. 13, while running along U.S. 1 from Melbourne to Titusville.
The run is an annual event for the past 25 years in which a relay team runs for more than 350 miles from Homestead to St. Augustine in nine days.
During the run, organizers said participants raise money for emergency shelters, crisis pregnancy centers and maternity homes for expectant mothers throughout Florida, who have no where else to go.
This year's run begins on Feb. 8 in Homestead, where runners will run the total of 360 miles to St. Augustine while also stopping at various churches along the way to collect the money raised for the cause.
Brevard County resident Rebecca Schill, who will be participating in the run, encourages members of the community to come and support the runners.
"This is my third year (with the run). I started when (the organization) first came to my church and talked about what they are doing," she said. "It's been amazing and a big passion for me. It is very rewarding when you finally make it to St. Augustine. They are a small group of men and women, who take time out of their busy schedules to do this."
Once the group arrives in Titusville, the organization will be collecting money from various churches throughout the county, including St. Teresa Catholic Church in Titusville.
Organizers said that at the run, the organization hopes to raise more than $100,000 for the charities. Last year, Genesis House in Melbourne and Pregnancy Outreach Ministries in Cocoa Beach received money from the donations.
For more information, visit the group's website at www.kcrunforlife.com.