Crazy 8 Run/Walk Will Raise Funds for the Pikeland Snack Packs Program

PITTS­FIELD, IL – As the third annu­al Pike Count Crazy 8 5K Run/​Walk approach­es par­tic­i­pants can expect a fun expe­ri­ence with a race path that loops through Pittsfield’s streets and past many his­tor­i­cal land­marks. Since its incep­tion, the race has ben­e­fit­ed local health and well­ness caus­es in Pike County.

The com­mu­ni­ty sup­port the event pro­vides is what makes the event spe­cial, says Bran­di Ruzich, Race Coor­di­na­tor. ​“It’s always reward­ing to see the event come togeth­er and it’s at the end when we’re able to donate the pro­ceeds that you see the true ben­e­fits of the com­mu­ni­ty,” Ruzich said.

In the past, pro­ceeds have ben­e­fit­ted Lowry Park in Pitts­field with a pur­chase of fit­ness equip­ment and the devel­op­ment of a com­mu­ni­ty bas­ket­ball court in Nebo. This year’s event ben­e­fits Pike­land Snack Packs, a sup­ple­men­tary food pro­gram that pro­vides bags of snacks and light meals for stu­dents over the week­end when stu­dents don’t have access to school meals.

Dean­na Rine­hart, Pres­i­dent of Board of Direc­tors of Pike­land Snack Packs, says there are fam­i­lies in Pitts­field and the sur­round­ing com­mu­ni­ty who are strug­gling to make ends meet. Through her work at the local health depart­ment, she real­ized how great the need was and began to research pro­grams to assist fam­i­lies with meal gaps.

“When you’re from a small com­mu­ni­ty you know a lot of peo­ple, but you may not always real­ize the need around you,” said Rine­hart. ​“Fam­i­lies are strug­gling to pro­vide food for their chil­dren. This pro­gram allows us to sup­port those families.”

Cur­rent­ly, the pro­gram serves South Ele­men­tary School in Pitts­field with plans to expand to Pike­land Com­mu­ni­ty School next school year.

The start and fin­ish line will be locat­ed at the QMG Pitts­field Affil­i­ate at 320 N. Madi­son Street. Check-in and reg­is­tra­tion will begin at 8:30 am. The Kids Fun Run will begin at 9:00 am, and the 5K will begin at 9:30 am. Reg­is­tra­tion is open and avail­able online at www​.quin​cymed​group​.com or forms are avail­able at the affil­i­ate. The ear­ly reg­is­tra­tion fee is $20 for an indi­vid­ual and $55 for a fam­i­ly (up to 4). Late reg­is­tra­tions turned in after April 20^th are $25 for an indi­vid­ual and $65 for a fam­i­ly (up to 4). All par­tic­i­pants will receive a shirt how­ev­er sizes are only guar­an­teed for ear­ly reg­is­tra­tions. Please con­tact Bran­di Ruzich at (217) 285‑9601 for more infor­ma­tion on the race.

Click here to learn more about the Crazy 8 Race!