The fifth annual Samuel Williams Be T.R.U.E 5K walk and run will be held on Saturday, Mar. 17 at 10 a.m.. All the proceeds of the event will be used to provide specialized teen leadership programs.
Junior Sierra Coflin reflects upon the run from her experience at last year’s event. “People got to start the race on the track and proceed up the Frost Hill and around the soccer field and tennis courts and then on the backside of the school and down by our softball field and repeated this another two times before coming back onto the track,” Coflin said.
Activities aside from the 5K run include obstacle courses, face painting and Zumba. “It is a fun event that is family friendly. The purpose of the race is to have a fun event that raises money to give a leadership award away to a sophomore in Wootton,” junior Amanda Williams said.
The race started in 2014 in memory of Williams’ brother, Samuel, who died in the summer of 2013. He was about to be a junior. “That is why the award is given to sophomores. The race brings Wootton students and families together just to have a good time and keep the memory of Samuel Williams going. People do not necessarily need to come and run. Families enjoy the time they get with their kids, runners like to race and challenge themselves on this course and students have a fun time being with friends,” Williams said.
Volunteers and contributors help prepare for the event, and people can participate in setting up the race as well. “People can learn about the race either by visiting the Samuel Williams leadership foundation website or by coming to the meetings that organize the race. There are sponsors that help support the foundation, but during the race, the SGA, the BBQ club, past award winners and families come to help set up and organize the race,” Williams said.
Williams predicts the upcoming event will be a success. “In the past few years, the outcomes were great. Everyone had a great time. The face paint, Zumba, the bounce house, the free food, the free prizes and more kept people enjoying the race,” she said.
Williams believes that this year’s event will be the best one yet. “There is a class competition this year for those who show the most spirit, there will be leprechauns to chase and get candy and free food. There is still the previous food and fun but we made it even more of a big event since it is the fifth year anniversary,” Williams said.
Along with the activities at the event, there will be a free raffle for all registered participants with prizes like a GoPro camera, Fitbit and Under Armour gear. People can register at http://www.swracereg.org/
Nitya Kumar
Commons Editor
