The 3rd annual Manna Global Ministries 5K, sponsored by Cloverdale Church of Christ, is at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 28, at Wyldewood Retreat Center in Searcy.
According to the church website, all proceeds from the race will go to Manna Christian School, located in the Dominican Republic, to help aid students in getting a Christian education.
The race is $20 for adults and $15 for children and students. This includes a T-shirt and traditional Dominican lunch after the race. Volunteer Chris Lowe and his family have helped with the Manna Global Ministries 5K for the past three years as well as serving as missionaries in the Dominican. Lowe said he looks forward to a growing number of runners this year to help raise funds.
“My wife and I were able to serve on an advisory board for the school the first couple years as they were getting started and then we started this race,” Lowe said. “After returning home from a mission trip to the Dominican, Cloverdale challenged us to put on this race to help raise money to build the school and so we did. We had the first Manna Race three years ago and raised about $5,000 to build the school.”
Computer science professor Frank McCown is in charge of the children’s race this year, which will be held before the 5K portion of the event. McCown and his wife have also been in charge of contacting local businesses to donate items such as prizes and food.
“This year the money is supposed to pay for computers and school supplies for the kids there,” McCown said. “We had a goal of having 300 people participate in the race this year. But we’ve been able to actually get more money from sponsors this year than in previous years.”
Junior Geneva Brock volunteered to work the 5K this year. Brock saw this opportunity as a way to get involved.
“They’re always talking about how college students can contribute to congregations in other ways besides passing a plate around and that’s what I’ve decided to do,” Brock said.
In order to register online, visitwww.raceit.com and search “Manna 5K” or sign up on site the day of the race.
