The tenth annual Run4Sam is set for Sunday, August 20th at Gring’s Mill Recreation Area in honor and memory of Samuel Brooklyn Reed. Registration on race day (rain or shine) will begin at 8 am. The 4-mile and 10K race begins at 9:30 am, with the two mile walk starting at 9:45 am. A Kids Fun Run for children 12 and under starts after the Race/Walk (about 1,600 feet).
The race and walk are one of the most scenic courses in the area; along the winding Tulpehocken creek on the Union Canal Trail once used as the actual towpath where mules walked as they towed the canal boats from the area which is now the Blue Marsh Lake to Stonecliffe Recreation Area near Reading. The course is mostly flat, shaded cinder trail that passes by several other historic landmarks (the Gruber Wagon Works, the Wertz’s Red Covered Bridge and “Mildred”, an original canal houseboat) along the way.
Our proceeds directly benefit the park as well as to contribute to the Samuel Brooklyn Reed Memorial Scholarship managed by the Berks County Community Foundation. To date, we have awarded close to $20,000.00 to local students.
We have given back extensively to Gring’s Mill since our first race event in 2008: over 40 flowering trees planted along the Union Canal trail to enhance the beauty, two award winning riparian buffer installations along the Tulpehocken Creek to reduce erosion, provide wildlife habitat, and improve stream quality, $10,000 to construct a pavilion which benefits park goers as well as rental reimbursement to the park, three AED’s (first aid heart machines) for the Park Rangers, and 1 for the downtown community campus for Penn State Health St. Joseph, and two ramps installed north and south of the stone bridge in the park to aid watercraft exiting and entering the creek.
We also strive to give back to the community in his name. Instead of trophies and medals, $2,000.00 is donated annually to local charities. Some of the past recipients have been Girls on the Run, The Humane Society, Habitat for Humanity and Berks Women in Crisis.
Please come run or walk with us in this beautiful park and help us to continue our goal of “giving back.” Individuals can receive a discount on their registration if they register by August 4th. Team must be approved and registered by August 11th. Please visit our website www.Run4Sam.net, email Run4Sam@comcast.net or call 610-698-6165 for more information regarding organizing and registering your team or as an individual. Pre-registration is required. Race Registration is also available online at www.pretzelcitysports.com.
Run4Sam has awesome volunteers, trail monitors and bike sweepers, multiple water stations, a DJ to get you motivated, Ladybug the clown for the kids, massage tables and chairs, an amazing post-race spread and cool door prizes and raffle baskets.
The race application and directions to the park can be found on our website www.run4sam.net. Questions can be directed to Run4Sam@comcast.net. Follow Run4Sam for updated info and donate button on our Facebook page.
