Join the SWMI Racers on Saturday, February 11th, as they dash to raise money for Grace Christian School’s Mission Trip to the Dominican Republic. Partnering with Casa Por Cristo, an organization that builds homes in communities in need, Grace Christian School participates in the construction of dwellings, and faith, every three years.
“There are nineteen students going on the trip this year (at the end of March), and the funds raised will aid in transportation and housing costs,” says Teresa Fitzgerald, volunteer with Grace Christian and the Board of Directors for SWMI Racers. In previous years, the school hosted a trail run fundraiser, but this is their first 5K.
The Snowman Dash 5K race begins at 10 a.m Saturday, and will start and end at the Salem Lutheran Church, at 275 Marvin Street, in Coloma. Racers will travel a similar route to the Glad Peach Festival parade, winding through the City of Coloma and Coloma Township. Participants can register in person the day-of, and online now.
“The first sixty people will receive an adorable snowman mug with goodies,” says Teresa, “and our medals this year are so cute!” The top three 5K finishers in each category will be eligible for age-group awards, and racers will be able to choose to complete either the 5K Run/Walk or the 1 Mile Shuffle in the Streets. Packet pickup begins at 9 a.m on the 11th.
The underprivileged communities of Santiago, Dominican Republic have forty percent of their residents living in poverty, where, with an unemployment rate of sixty percent, leaves families struggling to pay for food, adequate housing, and clean drinking water. Casa Por Cristo works closely with churches, ministries, and volunteers to help provide safe and secure housing for the locals. Since their inception in 1993, the organization has built over 6,000 homes.
If you’d like to support the cause without participating in the 5K, you are welcome to donate on the race signup page. (The group received their first online donation last week!) Gather your friends, families, coworkers, and neighbors, and help Grace Christian dash to the Dominican Republic.
By Jocelyne Tuszynski, MOTM Contributor
