Gennesaret Inc.’s 28th Annual Home Run for the Homeless will take place Thursday, Nov. 28, at 9 a.m. The four-mile race kicks off at the organization’s Family Nutritional Center, 419 W. Exchange St., and winds through historic Glendale Cemetery. A one-mile fun run and walk kicks off at 8:30 a.m.
Last year’s event drew approximately 3,000 registered runners/walkers and their families.
Cleveland Clinic Akron General is the title sponsor, and Butch Reynolds, Olympic track gold medalist and former world-record holder, will do the one-mile run/walk and start the four-mile race, which features an electronic timing system.
After the race, many free door prizes, including gift certificates from retailers and restaurants, will be given away to runners. Raffle tickets also will be sold for prizes.
The top-three male and female finishers in 12 age divisions will win awards. These first-, second- and third-place finishers will also receive a turkey, pumpkin pie and jam, respectively. First-place male and female finishers in the master (40-49) and grandmaster (50+) age divisions will win awards too.
Gennesaret is an all-volunteer nonprofit that provides transitional housing to families and serves hot meals to an average of 500 individuals weekly. The agency is funded entirely from grants and individual contributions and accepts no government financial support. More than 300 volunteers support Gennesaret, from preparing and serving meals, packing and distributing bags of groceries, distributing clothing and picking up donated food items. All race proceeds go directly to serving those in financial need through the Family Nutritional Center.
Race-day registration is 7:15 to 8:45 a.m. at the Family Nutritional Center. Akron Police will be on hand to regulate traffic and support the race.
The online prerace registration fee until Nov. 27 is $20 per person, and two or more family members are $10 each. Registration is available at www.gennesaret.net. Race-day registration is $25 per person and a pre-race registration and packet pickup will take place Nov. 25 and 26 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Vertical Runner, 112 N. Main St., in Hudson, and Nov. 27 from noon to 6 p.m. at Gennesaret’s Family Nutritional Center. The one-mile fun run/walk is $2. Also online are a course map and parking map.
Gold-level sponsors are Suburban Maintenance and Construction; Vertical Runner running-shoe store; Pepsi; Main Street Gourmet; Smith’s Dairy Products; Mustard Seed Market and Café; Papa Joe’s Iacomini’s; and The Cheesecake Factory.
Free fruit, baked goods and refreshments will be served at the race. The first 1,200 pre-registered four-mile runners receive a free giveaway. Runners also may bring like-new toys, gently used running shoes and blankets for needy families. For info, call (330) 858-6777.
