CHARLES TOWN – Proceeds from a benefit race this Saturday will help local families enduring the trials of breast cancer.
The Pink Ribbon 5K run, set to kick off at 9 a.m., is an annual charity put on by Gold’s Gym. The national workout franchise organizes the event to benefit the Angel Fund, a nonprofit organization that lends support to families and individuals dealing with the serious illness. “We’ve held a 5K run every year at this time, but this is the first Pink Ribbon run we’ve done on our own,” said Will Bowen, a general manager at the Charles Town Gold’s Gym facility. “All the money goes to charity. It’s key that people know it’s a local situation, because it’s helping out our neighbors essentially.” Bowen said that while locals are encouraged to pre-register, gym employees are still expecting to have more people register the morning of the race. “Typically on these 5K races, about 40 percent pre-register and 60 percent sign up that day,” he said. A staff of about five volunteers will lend their helping hands to see that the run, which will begin in the parking lot of Gold’s Gym and wind through neighboring sidewalks and yards, goes smoothly. “The weather (is) supposed to be really nice, 80 degrees, but I don’t know if anybody’s ready for that,” Bowen said with a laugh. “Hopefully, since the run is in the morning, temperatures will only be in the 60s.”
“It’s a great opportunity for everybody to come out and help local families dealing with illness, and to help give directly to the community in need,” Bowen said. “We’re very fortunate to be able to help out with a charity like this.”