Knights of Columbus Tootsie Roll 5K to help students with special needs

MADISON – The Knights of Columbus Tootsie Roll 5K Run and Walk will take runners through midtown and downtown Madison in their journey to help a special group of children.

The Tootsie Roll 5K will start at 8 a.m. on Nov. 4. The grounds at Madison City Schools Stadium, 211 Celtic Drive will serve as both the starting and finish lines.

The reference to “Tootsie Roll” acknowledges Knights of Columbus members giving a piece of candy to individuals who donate to the collection drive. The project’s official name is “Campaign for People with Intellectual Disabilities.”

Knights of Columbus, Councils 10232 and 17519 of Madison, are part of a nationwide Knights of Columbus campaign. These ‘knights’ from St. John the Baptist Catholic Church are presenting the 5K for the sixth year.

The runners can use the following quote from St. Pope Gregory the Great as motivation: “When we attend to the needs of those in want, we give them what is theirs, not ours. More than performing works of mercy, we are paying a debt of justice.”

The 5K run and walk will benefit local students with special learning needs. The MCS students will receive 100 percent of event proceeds.

“The Tootsie Roll 5K route is now a certified 5K course with USA Track and Field. Since we support the whole of Madison City Schools, we are now running through downtown Madison,” a Knights spokesperson said. “A big shoutout to the City of Madison for allowing this. As always, our effort is in support of Madison schools’ intellectual disabilities programs.”

“Know that by participating, you are contributing to your local community. We especially want to give a shoutout to those who have participated in the past, and we hope that you will continue to support our race and the students of the Special Education Program of Madison City Schools. If you cannot participate, please do consider offering a donation,” a spokesperson said.

With their start at MCS Stadium, the runners will proceed north on Celtic Drive, east on Lanier Road and then wind through the downtown area on Martin, Wise and Main streets. The route then goes north on Church Street to its intersection with Mill Road. Runners will go south on Hughes Road, turn west on Will Halsey Way and take Lanier Road to Celtic Drive to reach the finish line at the stadium.

Registration fee is $30. Registration deadline is Oct. 31 at 11:59 p.m.

Runners and walkers can decide the easiest site for packet pick-up:

* Fleet Feet –181 Hughes Road in Madison. Nov. 2 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

* Black Patch Distilling — 500 Lanier Road, Suite 3C in Madison. Nov. 3 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

* Day of the race — Madison City Schools Stadium, 211 Celtic Drive. Nov. 4 at 7 a.m.

For more information, visit runsignup.com/Race/Events/AL/Madison/KofCTootsieRoll5K.