Run & Walk 4 Life 2008

By Erin Herwig

The Run & Walk 4 Life 2008 is almost here! On Saturday, May 10, 2008 the young, old and in-between will get together to celebrate life – and run 5 kilometers or walk 2 miles! With record-breaking registrations to date, re-vamped activities and a planning committee of over 20 energized individuals, the 10th anniversary of this event is a must-attend celebration.

What is new this year? A ton! The Location: the event is traditionally held at Creve Coeur Park but this year will kick off at the front door of the St. Louis City Pregnancy Resource Center at 4331 Lindell Blvd., in the Central West End neighborhood.

The Start: All runners will begin at exactly 9 a.m. All walkers will begin at exactly at 9:30 a.m. Registration will open at 7:30 a.m. and participants are encouraged to arrive early and be ready for their event.

The Run: A 5K run has been added with medals for top finishers. The Registration Process: Register and collect pledges online! Traditional paper registration and pledge forms are available through many area churches and by request to Erin Herwig, (314) 783-3040 x224, but setting up a Runner/Walker page online is free and easy to get started at www.thrivestlouis.org.

The Sponsors: Cass Commercial Bank has teamed up with ThriVe St. Louis to present the Run & Walk 4 Life 2008 with 97.1 FM TALK serving as the Media Partner.

The Players: Jamie Allman, co-host of Allman and Crane in the Morning on 97.1 FM TALK has stepped up to take on the Honorary Chair/MC position, promoting the event on-air and has created Team Allman so his listeners and friends can sign up/collect pledges and get to know ThriVe’s mission and programs! Traditional Walk4Lifers will be joined by numerous youth and school groups this year, making the event a true community celebration.

The Community Fair: After participating, runners and walkers may attend a community fair and enjoy great food prepared by the Zoe Ministry of First Evangelical Free Church and the Life Team of Twin Oaks Presbyterian Church.

Check out the ThriVe St. Louis website at www.thrivestlouis.org for more information on how to get registered and get involved. There is no cost to participate, but there are incentive levels for team and individual fundraising and great tips on how to get creative and raise pledges. All are encouraged to come out and make the 10th Anniversary of this event a huge celebration reflecting God’s glory and the value of human life. All proceeds from the Run & Walk 4 Life benefit ThriVe St. Louis, operating Pregnancy Resource Centers and their Best Choice Sexual Integrity Program.

For the past twenty-five years, ThriVe St. Louis – operating first as Crisis Pregnancy Center and later as the Greater St. Louis Pregnancy Resource Centers – has provided support services to women and men facing unplanned pregnancies. Eight years ago, responding to a community need, sexual integrity programming was added to encourage abstinence outside of marriage, with a particular focus on teenagers. In October 2007, ThriVe St. Louis was introduced as the new corporate identity, designed to reach out to the St. Louis community with information, programs and services that challenge the current cultural conversation about sex.

All services are free and confidential and include pregnancy tests, educational ultrasounds, options counseling, introduction to the medical care system, referrals to social services agencies and organizations, post-abortive and pregnancy-loss support, life skills classes, infant and maternity supplies, sexual integrity education, case management and a 24/7 helpline. Life skills classes are offered once weekly for 42 weeks and cover a range of topics needed to move beyond basic survival, including budgeting and finance, healthy relationships, effective parenting, job readiness, and emotional wellness. Sexual integrity classes explore the full impact of human sexuality, moving beyond the typical physical focus and encompassing emotional bonding, brain chemistry, and social impact.

ThriVe clients are typically young, undereducated or unemployed, and often unmarried. Many are minority women and men lacking sufficient life skills to provide socially, physically, emotionally, or intellectually for themselves or their children. Through comprehensive life skills classes and referrals to other organizations and agencies, ThriVe works to empower people to make life-affirming and healthy decisions about sex, relationships, and pregnancy.

Need a speaker to educate your church, youth or community group on ThriVe St. Louis? Speakers and materials are available by request to Terri Hunter at (314) 783-3040 x225.

Important Run & Walk 4 Life 2008 Information: Over 120 volunteers are needed to help on May 10. Recruit friends, relatives, church members and neighbors to join a team. Flyers are available – call Erin at (314) 783-3040 x 224. Raise or donate at least $25 and receive a limited-edition Run & Walk 4 Life 2008 t-shirt! For more information on the Run & Walk 4 Life 2008 or how to get your group involved – please contact Erin Herwig at (314) 783-3040 x224 or email events@thrivestlouis.org for more information.