Community Service
Tennessee State Society of Washington D.C. Partners with “Run Now Relay” Team Making their Way to Boston
March 31, 2014
Washington, DC— A group of runners from Cleveland, Tennessee, are taking their love of the sport to the next level by running over 1,000 miles from their hometown to Boston, Massachusetts, with an important stop in D.C. along the way.
Run Now Relay is tackling the monumental feat as a way to show support for the victims of the Boston bombings and to call attention to the benefits and camaraderie of the running community across the country. The group is raising money along the way to help the victims impacted by the bombing on April 15, 2013. They have identified two charities and are well on the way to their goal to raise upwards of $50,000 to support them.
The plan includes a community-wide send-off on the morning of April 12, 2014 in Cleveland, TN and arriving April 20, 2014 the day before the 2014 Boston Marathon. The runners will run non-stop, 24 hours a day through eight states and over 1,000 miles, hitting large metropolitan areas such as Knoxville, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York City.
Run Now Relay will make their way to Washington, D.C. on April 16, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. They will meet by the Washington Monument at the 15th St kiosk where a group “Fun Run for Boston” will take place down the Mall and to the Nation’s Capital with “volunteers” from across the Washington, D.C. community. Anyone is encouraged to join as a way to show solidarity with victims of the Boston Marathon and support the Run Now Relay purpose.
The group is raising money along the way to help the victims impacted by the bombing on April 15, 2013. They have identified two charities and have a goal to raise upwards of $50,000 to support them.
The Tennessee State Society (TSS) (with support from its Partners) is joining with the group to ensure the D.C. leg of the run is a success. The State Society is spreading the word through its members and the press “go volunteer!”. TSS is a 501 (C) (7) non-partisan, social and philanthropic organization that connects individuals living in our nation’s capital who either hail from or have a deep love for the Volunteer State.
“The adventure is a draw, but more importantly it is a platform in which to raise awareness about the on-going issues those victims continue to face and an opportunity to raise funds to support those victims and the people of Boston,” Matt Ryerson, event organizer and director of the Cleveland United Way, said.
Another way folks can contribute to the cause is through donations. The Run Now Relay team has selected two partner charities where 100% of all funds raised will go to the One Step Ahead Foundation (onestepaheadfoundation.org), which has committed to serving the children who suffered amputations because of the Boston bombing and Dream Big! (www.dream-big.org), a Boston-based nonprofit serving underprivileged girls, through sports. “Sports and running are the driving force behind the entire project,” Ryerson said.
To learn more about the run or to donate, visit www.runnowrelay.org. To sign up for the DC “Fun Run for Boston” and general inquiries, please R.S.V.P on the TSS Facebook Page or send a note to the DC relay team member Dana Ayers at RunNowDana@yahoo.com. For inquiries to TSS, please contact Margaret Anne Moore at tnssmembership@gmail.com.
Don’t forget to follow Run Now Relay on Facebook and Twitter with #runtoboston! Runners will be available for photo opportunities and interviews before and after the D.C. “Fun Run for Boston”.
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Volunteering with TSS
Nashville, TN Photo Credit: Kenton Forshee
Tennessee State Society is always looking for volunteers to help with our events and activities.
Individuals are welcome to volunteer by helping to organize events ahead of time and/or volunteering at TSS events.
Volunteers shifts vary, but most last one or two hours. Our volunteers assist board members in activities such as: checking members in, setting up for events, organizing volunteers, and cleaning up after events. For more information please fill out the contact form.
Individuals are welcome to volunteer by helping to organize events ahead of time and/or volunteering at TSS events.
Volunteers shifts vary, but most last one or two hours. Our volunteers assist board members in activities such as: checking members in, setting up for events, organizing volunteers, and cleaning up after events. For more information please fill out the contact form.