Family Promise of Greater Roanoke is hosting their first Superhero Race in partnership with Roanoke’s GO Outside Festival. The race is a fundraiser honoring homeless families, who show heroic courage by joining Family Promise and taking the step toward self-sufficiency. The group will also be honoring their volunteers who show hospitality as they welcome homeless families for dinner and as overnight guests in their houses of worship.
Families comprise 40% of the homeless population; 53% of the individuals served by Family Promise of Greater Roanoke in 2012 were children. Family Promise of Greater Roanoke is a network of 28 Roanoke Valley congregations and over 1,000 volunteers who provide temporary housing and meals for families with children. Family Promise provides full-time case management to assist families in addressing and overcoming causes of homelessness and creating goals of employment, housing and education in their return to independence.
The event will begin Saturday, October 19 with race day registration at 8:00 A.M. A half-mile Little Heroes Race at the Reserve Avenue fields in Roanoke will begin at 9:00 A.M. The 5K Superhero Race for runners and walkers of all ages and abilities, children in strollers and dogs will start at 9:15. It will begin and end on Reserve Avenue.
After the race there will be a Parade of Heroes, live music, free refreshments and children’s activities. Prizes will be awarded for most creative costumes for runners and walkers, children, dogs and teams, and for the largest team.
The entry fee is $25.00 for runners and walkers registered before midnight September 27. The late entry fee is $30.00 for runners and walkers. The entry fee for children registered before midnight September 27 is $15.00, and the late entry fee is $20.00. The entry fee for dogs is $5.00. Children younger than two years old participate for free. The maximum fee for a family is $75.00. Participants registered before midnight September 27 will be guaranteed a free race t-shirt. Dogs registered before midnight September 27 will be guaranteed a free race bandana. Race day entries will be accepted.
