Tootsie Roll 5K and Fun Run returns Nov. 1
Proceeds benefit the special education program at Madison City Schools
MADISON – Hey all you runners and walkers out there.
The Tootsie Roll 5K and 1-mile Fun Run is about to roll again in Madison.
Sign up now for the Nov. 1 event(s) (tinyurl.com/TootsieRoll5k ) or plan to come anyway to watch. Here’s a chance to drop a little weight before packing some back on over Thanksgiving.
And it’s all for a great cause.
Proceeds benefit the special education program at Madison City Schools.
Both runs start and end at Madison City Stadium next to the Madison City Schools Central Office on Celtic Street.
This is the 8th Annual Tootsie Roll 5K and the second year in a row for the Fun Run, which immediately follows.
“This race is a local expression by the Knights of Columbus to help students in our community with special needs,” said Nick Selig, race director. The 5K starts at 8 a.m. and Fun Run at 9 a.m. The $30 5K registration includes the Fun Run (price increases after Oct. 10). The Fun Run only is $15.
The USATF-certified Tootsie Roll 5K is part of an effort by the Knights of Columbus (KofC) to raise funds for Madison City Schools’ Special Education programs (SPED). A big thanks to KofC Councils 10232 at St. John the Baptist and 17519 Most Merciful Jesus of Madison for their steadfast support of SPED. The Tootsie Roll Run has generated more than $200,000 for MCS SPED over the years for software, specialized teaching tools and instructional material, communication boards and learning aids, special sensory rooms and more.
Helping people with disabilities is a hallmark focus of Knights of Columbus chapters nationwide. A quote from St. Pope Gregory the Great epitomizes the objectives of the KofC Tootsie Roll 5K: “When we attend to the needs of those in want, we give them what is theirs, not ours.”
The run has come to symbolize both a fun activity for families and a serious one for hard core runners. Students are encouraged to sign up under their school’s team name to promote friendly competition between schools. The race begins and ends at Madison City Stadium and runs through downtown Madison. Packet pickup is the day before at Fleet Feet off Hughes Road, but there’s a day-of-race packet pickup as well starting at 7 a.m. Refer 5 friends and get a $15 refund if they also register.
Every year a special student ambassador is honored at the Tootsie Roll Run. This year’s special student ambassador will be Sam Gewin. Sam,14, is in his third year in Ms. Gulley’s class at Discovery Middle in the Specialized Learning Classroom. He was diagnosed with level 3 autism at age 2 and is the son of John and Barbara Gewin.
Sam is very happy with a big personality. He enjoys rides, long baths, using his saucer swing and listening to music, especially 80’s pop and Christmas songs. His favorite foods include beans & rice from Bandito, French fries, and vanilla milkshakes. He also enjoys playing baseball for the Rangers team in the Miracle League.
We celebrate Sam’s progress and others in the MCS Special Education program. Sam has grown socially and now engages with peers when he previously was more reclusive.
The Tootsie Roll namesake stems from when the signature fundraiser by KofC was a Tootsie Roll candy drive outside store fronts.
Madison City Schools SPED Director Dr. Susan Zinkil said the run holds a special place in her heart as she has seen directly how students with disabilities benefit from all the generous financial and spirited support. Additionally, it is heartwarming seeing MCS students and others volunteering or participating in the race.
