Dalton Veterans Day Road Race

Photo features local fire department crossing the finish line after running 5 miles in turn-out gear in honor of Sue Gilley, a former Boys & Girls Club bus driver and cherished member of our Boys & Girls Club family.

First things first! Can you introduce yourself and your organization to our readers?

Hello,

I am Adain Coulter, the race director for the Veterans Day Road Race and Director of Development for the Boys & Girls Club of North Georgia. Alongside organizing this race for our BGC community, I spend my working hours fundraising for four of the six counties that we serve. Every day 650--700 kids come through our doors. They come from all different backgrounds, but we want them to leave every day with a few things in mind. They are loved. They have a safe place to learn and grow at the club. They are held accountable for their words and actions, but they will always be treated with respect.

The Veterans Day Road Race is just one way that we not only raise money for our clubs, but we get to create opportunities for the community to get to know us, get to know the staff that are pouring into their kids, and create a chance for businesses and individuals alike to get connected to and learn more about what we do. And, of course, it’s fun!

What about the races? What was the inspiration behind this event and how does it help you all accomplish your mission?

Though the location of the race has changed over the years, even featuring a virtual run through the COVID-19 pandemic, the mission has always been the same. Each race, we strive to provide a positive and FUN environment and race experience for our runner community, employees of our sponsoring business, all of the volunteers who make this event possible, and of course the Boys & Girls Club kids and staff who attend.

The race serves as an opportunity to raise money for our THREE Whitfield County Club Sites and share our mission, “to enable all youth, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as responsible, productive, caring citizens” with all who attend.

Our hope is that runners, volunteers, and sponsors alike leave the event knowing they supported a great cause and helped invest in the futures of all the club kids we serve.

How long have you all been putting this event on?

It has been a community effort for many years. A third party runner’s club used to host this event for our Boys & Girls Club, and it has slowly shifted to a wonderful fundraising opportunity, growing more and more each year. Slowly, the runner’s club has stepped back and let us take full control, after firmly establishing it as a marque race event for our Whitfield County residents (and others who travel from Calhoun, Chattanooga, and Cleveland). Last year was the first year we hosted it without their help, and we are so excited to pull even more people into our mission. But, we are so thankful for the Carpet Capital Running Club for starting this lovely tradition that we now get to call ours.

Can you give us some details -- where and when is the race? Is there anything unique about it that runners should know?

We host 2k, 5k, and 5-mile distances. All races will begin at 9:00 am, November 1st. Registration begins at 7:30 am.

Our fun-run is always a hit for people who want to walk and talk, be a part of a race but get to stay in the park, or want an opportunity to run with their kids! Our 5k is the most popular race distance, and our 5-mile runs the same route as our 5k but with a detour roughly mid-way.

Runners should be aware that the start and finish line are not at the same location. We will have shuttle buses running from Praters Mill back to Edwards park where they can enjoy conversation and entertainment from all of our wonderful sponsors who will have booths set up while they wait for the award ceremony to begin.

Both the 5-mile and 5k races start at Edwards Park and end at the beautiful Praters Mill Historic Site, which is open year round for hiking and fishing and will be open the afternoon of the race if you want to drive over to have a picnic with your friends or family following the end of the race.

Beyond the event, how can people get involved or connected with your organization?

We are always accepting volunteers, provided they complete our volunteer registration process. We appreciate donations of any kind. (You can visit bgcgmw.org to donate today).

Advocacy and word-of-mouth marketing is also such a big help. We want everyone in our community to know what the Boys & Girls Club does, how it serves kids, and how important it is in shaping the future of our community, because it starts with the kids who come in our doors everyday.

If you want to host a third-party fundraising event as Boys & Girls Clubs of North Georgia as the beneficiary, we would absolutely love to have a conversation with how we can support and partner with you to make the biggest impact!

If you are interested in any of the above listed opportunities, feel free to contact me, Adain Coulter, at acoulter@bgcgmw.org or call my cell, 762-546-1249.

Is there anything else you would like to share?

If you are looking to be a sponsor of our event, or add value to your company’s health and wellness program by providing free entry to employees of your organization, we would love to get connected.

If you choose to run our race, we hope you have a great time, and we can’t wait to meet you!

Please call, 762-546-1249 or email acoulter@bgcgmw.org if you have any further questions about the race, sponsorship opportunities, or how to get involved at your local BGC!