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Benefiting the future: Cowboys and Kids Run all about families, education
By Kenny Green, kgreen@starlocalnews.com
Families have a chance to get outside, get some exercise and raise money for a good cause as part of the 6th Annual QuickTrip Cowboys and Kids event on Saturday, Oct. 27 at the Mesquite Convention Center.
The annual event is presented by the Mesquite ISD Education Foundation and the Mesquite Education Association. It is one of the foundations major fundraisers. The foundation raises money to contribute to programs within the school district that otherwise would go unfunded.
"This event is a fun way to support teachers and students of Mesquite ISD," said Randy Lewallyn, executive director of the Mesquite ISD Education Foundation. "Proceeds from the run support scholarships and fund campus and district program grants in MISD."
"The Cowboys and Kids Run is challenging for the avid runner and fun for the entire family," said Greg Noschese, run chair and board member of the Mesquite ISD Education Foundation. "This event would not be possible without the support of our title sponsor QuikTrip, and our other generous sponsors."
The event includes a 5K race and a 1-mile fun run. More than 1,000 runners are expected to participate in the race. The mascot mile will kick off the festivities. The mascot mile features mascots from professional sports teams, businesses and Mesquite schools. The mascots will race to officially start the event.
The 1-mile fun run will begin at 8:15 a.m. followed by the start of the 5K race at 8:30 a.m. Following the runs there will be several activities inside the convention center to take part in.
"You won't want to miss the post-race activities including great food, games and bounce houses for kids inside the Mesquite Convention Center," Lewallyn said.
The event is designed to allow all members of the family to participate. A prime example of this is Lewallyn and his family. Lewallyn's wife Allison, who works in the MISD's communication office, and soon-to-be four-year-old daughter will be participating in the run.
"This will be our first year to participate as a family. I plan to try and do all of the events. My daughter and I will participate together in the fun run and I plan on doing the 5K. I am hoping Randy will have the opportunity to do the 5K with me," Allison Lewallyn said. "I am really looking forward to it. I think it's going to be great. Our daughter will be four then and will be participating. It's great for her because she gets to go outside, see all the mascots and play in the bounce houses."
She said the money raised from the event has been a huge benefit to the district.
"Here in MISD we have to stretch every dollar. [The money from the foundations] are a tremendous help. The money the foundation gets goes to fund new and innovative programs like the iPad program at Rutherford Elementary. For those kids to be exposed to that technology is so important. Another beneficiary is the district's AVID program. It's really important because takes kids that will usually fall between the cracks and targets them. It gives them the resources and tools they need to advance themselves after college," Allison said. "I have seen the benefits of both of those programs and it's vital to our students.
Allison said the event not only benefits the district but also provides an opportunity for families to promote health and wellness.
"From a family perspective it's important to promote health and wellness to the children and this is for a great cause," she said.
"As a mother it's a huge motivator for me to participate because I want my child to have the same opportunities as other children. My daughter is going to be in school in two to three years and I want her to have the same opportunities we have now."
To pre?register and or obtain information about the run, visit www.cowboysandkidsrun.com. For information about the Cowboys and Kids Run beneficiaries visit the Mesquite ISD Education Foundation website at www.mesquitefoundation.org or the Mesquite Education Association website at www.mesquiteisd.org/mea.
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