Run the Lights of LIFE 5K/1K, a tradition Life University (LIFE) started in 2014, saw tremendous growth in its second year, with more than 800 runners racing on one of the two days last weekend.
Like last year, runners were asked to voluntarily bring unused, children’s and teenager’s toys to the race to be donated to the local James T. Anderson Boys & Girls Club in Marietta. Once again, they came through in a huge way.
Life University has established a strong relationship with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta, especially the Marietta location located less than two miles from their 110-acre campus. Even though runners were not required to bring toys, a great amount showed their holiday spirit by doing so regardless,. Hundreds of toys will be provided to needy children in Cobb County.
On Tuesday afternoon, December 8, LIFE’s Vice President of Professional Relations Gilles LaMarche, D.C., went to the Boys & Girls Club in Marietta to present the toys to the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Atlanta’s Director of Individual Giving, Ms.Barb Allen. The bright smiles on the faces of children at the Boys and Girls Club when they saw the bags of toys enter the facility was a great sight to experience., Many of these children would go without toys at Christmas if not for local organizations such as Life University, Toys for Tots and others.
“We are very happy and proud of the success of this event in its first two years,” notes Dr. LaMarche on Run the Lights of LIFE. “The goal of this event is to get people to experience our campus, complete the run and collect toys and funds to support the Boys & Girls Club. We are very excited about the results we have achieved and look forward to the growth we expect in the years ahead.”
“Around metro-Atlanta we have 26 sites and serve about 3,500 kids every single day,” explains Allen of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta’s impact. “When we look at the impact of the needs of those kids, especially during the holidays, agencies like Life University are necessary so that our kids don’t go without during this season.”
The James T. Anderson Boys & Girls Club is still in need of more presents, especially for their teenage members. If you are interested in finding out more about how you can donate to this great organization, visit their website.
Source: Life University