Life University’s inaugural Run the Lights of LIFE 5K/1K raises 100 toys for local Boys & Girls Club

LIFE’s holiday run generated more than 100 toy donations for the Boys & Girls Club in Marietta, Georiga.

December 15, 2014 ­— Earlier this month, Life University (LIFE) began a new holiday tradition with the Run the Lights of LIFE 5K/1K, which runs on the campus track and running trails. The inaugural event, which took place on Dec. 6, was a huge success, drawing over 600 runners to the Marietta, Georgia, campus.

After the race, participants enjoyed several fun attractions, including the renowned Lights of LIFE holiday lights show. Additionally, runners were asked to voluntarily bring unused, children’s and teenagers’ toys to the race for the local James T. Anderson Boys & Girls Club.

“On Saturday, we started a new tradition,” said LIFE’s Vice President of Professional Relations Gilles LaMarche, DC. “The goal of the tradition is to get people to come and experience our campus, complete the run, and also to get toys and raise funds to support the Boys & Girls Club. We are very excited about the results we achieved this year.”

Life University has established a strong relationship with the Boys & Girls Clubs of metro Atlanta, especially the Marietta location, which is located less than two miles from the 110-acre campus. Runners were not required to bring toys, but many did–more than 100 toys were donated.

LaMarche presented the toys to the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Atlanta’s Director of Individual Giving Barb Allen and the James T. Anderson Boys & Girls Club’s Executive Director Lauren Odom this past Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 9.

“This definitely has a large impact on the club,” Odom said. “We count on donations like this from organizations to fulfill our goal of making sure our kids receive gifts during the Christmas season.”

The kids’ smiles when they saw the bags of toys enter the facility was a great sight, as many of them would go without toys at Christmas if not for local organizations such as Life University, Toys for Tots, and others. The James T. Anderson Boys & Girls Club is planning to host a holiday party on Dec. 18, where the toys will be distributed to the children and teenagers.

“Around metro Atlanta, we have around 28 sites and serve about 3,500 kids every single day,” Allen said. “When we look at the impact of the needs of those kids, especially during the holidays … agencies like Life University are necessary or our kids are going to go without.”

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, contact Odom at 770-427-0418 or go to their website at bgcma.org/donate.

Source: Life University