HAMLET — Organizers of the Seaboard Festival 5K recently announced FirstHealth of the Carolinas and FirstHealth Fitness-Richmond as title sponsor for the 2017 event.
This year will mark the 33rd year of this annual road race, which is part of the Seaboard Festival in downtown Hamlet. The Seaboard Festival and Seaboard Festival 5K are non-profit events supporting local charities.
Duke Smith, of Mangum Track Club, became race director of this race event in 2015.
“In 2015, I was focused on delivering a great race while raising money for local charities,” he said. “Last year, we wanted to do more than just give to charities. We wanted to give the race participants a reason to sign-up for this amazing event.
“So, we started the Seaboard Festival 5K scholarship at Richmond Community College,” Smith continued. “Participants had an option to donate to the scholarship fund at registration and the response was overwhelming.”
The first Seaboard Festival 5K scholarship will award $1,000 to a student at Richmond Community College in the 2017-2018 academic school year. Donations from participants will make it possible to add a second scholarship in the future.
“Our partnership with FirstHealth as title sponsor, and the help from our other dedicated sponsors, will continue to make the Seaboard Festival 5K a benefactor for our community,” Smith said.
The Seaboard Festival 5Kwill be held on Saturday, Oct. 28 at 8 a.m., starting at Calvary Baptist Church in Hamlet.
Registration is online only and is open at www.seaboardfestival.com/5k/5k.html or on the Seaboard Festival 5k Facebook page.
Early registration is $25 from now through Oct. 1. Potential participants are encouraged to sign up early to be guaranteed an event t-shirt. All race finishers will receive a unique finishers medal for completing the event.