Black History Month 5k race happening Feb. 24
Published 10:53 am Thursday, January 25, 2024
- Each race participant will receive a medal. Photo submitted.
By Fiona Morgan
The Black History Month 5K and 1 Mile Fun Walk is returning for its second year in Danville. The event is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 24 at 10 a.m. at Millennium Park.
The race is hosted by Jason Weathers and the Weathers Family Foundation, a local family nonprofit. Last year was their first year of hosting it, and Weathers said it went well.
He said about 150 people show up at the race last year, and they raised $1,000 for The Salvation Army.
Proceeds from this year’s event will be going to The Agape House Pregnancy Resource Center. The Agape House is a non-profit organization that helps pregnant women and their families by offering prenatal and child development classes.
Weathers said they hope to raise double what they did last year. He said they expect more people to attend this year’s race; 35 people are currently registered, which is more than they had around the same time last year, Weathers said.
The race is a closed course on paved trails at Millennium Park. There will be a 5K timed run/walk aimed toward those with fitness goals, and a one-mile, untimed walk for those just looking to enjoy a walk.
The 5K will start at 10 a.m. and is $25 to enter, and the one-mile fun walk will start at 10:05 a.m. and is $20.
All participants, whether they do the 5K or 1 mile, will get a free race T-shirt, a commemorative finishers medal, and free race photos. They will be giving awards for the top three male and female finishers.
After the race, people can enjoy music, food, drinks and fellowship.
February is Black History Month, and Weathers said they started the race to be able to remember generations of African Americans who have dealt with racism, as well as help the local community.
“This is a way we’re able to give back to the community; whether you’re African American or another race, being able to come together and help another organization, in this instance a nonprofit group,” Weathers said.
This race is open to all races, ethnicities, and age-groups.
The Weathers Family Foundation is run by four local siblings, Larry, Angela, Melinda and Jason Weathers. Different members of the Weathers family are helping put on the race, including reaching out to local sponsors. Sponsors will be listed on the race t-shirts and are on the race website.
A race map is available on the race sign-up website. People can sign up by going to runsignup.com.
Weathers said they hope to keep doing the race every year, raising money for a different group each year.
