The Telegraph 10K and 5K races will be held again this year thanks to the combined efforts of Kathy Darnell with
Sunrise Over Africa and Gerry Geraghty with River Run for Orphans.
The races will take place at 9 a.m. May 8 in the Horse Gulch area with 10K, 5K and 1-mile fun-run options available for
the entire family.
Darnell, president of the Durango chapter of the Ssejinja Children's Foundation (ssejinja.org/cart/), decided to take
over this event because she liked the idea of a longstanding race like the Telegraph races and the fact that it is a
trail race with different options to make it a more family-friendly event.
The Sunrise Over Africa race, previously run on the Animas River Trail, began in 2007 when John Weswah and Danny
Whelan, former Fort Lewis College cross country runners, came up with the idea.
They solicited the help of the Ssejinja Foundation, Your Running Store and local volunteers to put together a race that
would benefit orphans in Uganda
Darnell hopes that through both individual and business sponsorships, plus registration fees, that the race will bring
in about $10,000, of which 100 percent will go toward building a school and scholarship fund for orphan children in
Uganda as well as to our local Southwest Safe House.
“We are all about health, education and sustainable living projects," Darnell saidd. “We are offering an opportunity
for locals to invest in the lives of others by simply doing something they love ... running."
Geraghty became involved when the race needed a director. With 35 years of coaching and many years of nonprofit
experience, he felt it was a good fit for his other nonprofit endeavors.
Volunteerism has been a central part in Geraghty's life since childhood, so when he heard the city would not be putting
on this event, he encouraged Darnell to take it over since it is such a popular race and would be a big draw for her
fundraising efforts.
Moving the race to a Saturday was Gerry's idea.
“People who show up on Sunday would still show up on a Saturday, but those who wouldn't show up on Sunday would on a
Saturday," he said, “specifically people who attend local churches that are already involved in orphan projects both
locally and globally."
“The course is pretty much set due to the efforts of Durango Motorless Transit, Geraghty, Whelan and Rick Callies,"
Darnell said.
“We are still in need of donors and volunteers for the post-race party and, of course, more sponsors in order to
achieve our $10,000 goal."
Sponsors will have an opportunity to display their business banners and set up tables at the event. They can
include promotional items and business flyers in the runner packets.
Also needed are a master of ceremonies, race-day volunteers, food volunteers as well as more prizes and drawing gifts.
So far Your Running Store has donated gift certificates for free shoes that will be raffled off at the race.
For race-day information and registration, go to www.go-dmt.org under the events section. Or go to Your Running Store.
To volunteer, please contact Kathy at kathydarnell@hotmail.com.
Reach Marjorie Brinton at runswim55@gmail.com
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