East Brainerd Fitness Together owner Justin Tate will soon present a check for $10,000 to Hope and Help International for tornado relief work in the Apison, Ringgold and Trenton areas.
Six hundred participants showed up for the recent Run for Relief, which ended up raising $10,000 to be given to Hope and Help International for relief work in the Apison, Ringgold and Trenton areas.After hearing of the devastation, which affected areas where many of his clients live, he threw a benefit race together on the fly. It was more of a success than he’d even hoped.
“The first of May I really was anticipating a couple hundred people and wanted to raise several thousand dollars,” he said. Six hundred people participated. “I wish I’d been more prepared for 600 people, but it’s a learning experience and next time I will be.”
Tate said he plans to hold another Memorial Day weekend benefit run at Greenway Farm next year. The charity organization and reason could change, though.
“I heard a lot of people who had friends and family affected or knew people who were affected and that’s why they wanted to be part of it,” he said of this year’s run. “They were running for them that day.”
Hope and Help donation trucks set up on-site that day were filled by attendees who donated everything from pots and pans to bathroom necessities.