Collectively, the YoungLives race, which included a 10K in addition to the regular 5K this year, has raised nearly $300,000 over the past decade. A stark contrast for a race that started with 30 runners participating in “a little neighborhood jog” in Hamilton.
“How the money supports YoungLives, it underwrites the mission in Hamilton,” said Kamie Dixon, coordinator for YoungLives in the Greater Miami Valley region. “It’s not just the money, but the heart and the people behind (the scenes), and the runners that give, and the folks that don’t run but still want to donate.”
Dixon said the support of this race is “a huge affirmation” for the teens and young moms, which supports and encourage them on their journey.
A big part of the YoungLives Hamilton mission is the yearly out-of-state trip, where they’ll go out of state to a YoungLives camp. The race helps underwrite all but 5% of the cost for camp, only for the fact they want the moms and moms-to-be to have ownership in the “experience of a lifetime.”
“Camp gives our moms a chance to connect with the divine,” Dixon said, “through nature, through community and even through spiritual encouragement.”
Credit: pROVIDED
Credit: pROVIDED
This year’s race grew by 350 runners over the then-record year in 2023, said Katie Powers, the race director who’s been with the race since the beginning.
“To be around so many people, to get to share Thanksgiving morning in such a fun way to support this local ministry is incredible,” she said, and it’s nice to see growth despite other local Thanksgiving Day races had started recently (Mason and West Chester Twp.). Adding the 10K this year helped, Powers said.
“We just keep on plugging away, keep on praying and seeing what the Lord does,” she said of the team of seven volunteers that plan the race. “I think that positive experience brings people back, even though there are other local races started up.”
Many regular runners that participated in the 5K signed up for the 10K, and some new runners who wouldn’t travel for a 5K did so for the 10K. Half the participants were either from the region or one of nearly two dozen states.
“I think they enjoy being in Hamilton,” Powers said, adding that Cincinnati Reds mascot Rosie and 17Strong mascot Xander joined in the race-day festivities, which included an expanded after party. She said they’d like to incorporate more volunteer opportunities for groups, like the Hamilton football team’s Grid Iron Club had done the past few years.
“Every year, it seems we have to expand it a little bit more,” Powers said, adding that among the 50 sponsors, most were local, including T-shirts by Unsung Salvage Design Co. and medals by High-Main Laserworks. For next year, “Hopefully another record year. We’re always working out kinks. We send out surveys to get feedback, and we listen to the folks who provide that feedback.”
Credit: pROVIDED
Credit: pROVIDED
Credit: pROVIDED
Credit: pROVIDED
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