Girls on the Run, other groups to support Ronald McDonald House fundraiser

Over 1,100 people will run and walk 3.1 miles through Iowa City as part of the 28

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annual Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern Iowa Run/Walk fundraiser on Sunday, May 6, 2012.  Over 300 of those runners and walkers will be Girls on the Run participants and supporters.

Girls on the Run is an after-school program for 3

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through 6

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grade girls. The current Girls on the Run season began in mid-February at over a dozen area schools, as participating girls began meeting with volunteer coaches twice a week after school. Girls on the Run combines running with lessons about important topics such as preventing bullying, processing emotions, serving the community, and making wise choices. The 5K is the culminating event of the 10-week season.

Over the course of the 10-week season, the girls and their coaches have prepared for the 5K race and learned other lessons along the way, such as cooperation and perseverance. “By combining running with lessons about healthy life skills, we help girls develop physically, emotionally and socially.  Our hope is that each girl will cross the finish line knowing that she can do anything she sets her mind to,” said Kathleen Cannon, executive director of Girls on the Run of Johnson County, Iowa.  “We're excited to partner for the fourth year in a row with the Ronald McDonald House Fun Run to celebrate our season's end and the girls' accomplishments.  It is a joy and inspiration to watch the girls participate,” said Ginny Ryan Buresh, Board Chair of Girls on the Run of Johnson County, Iowa.

The girls running the Ronald McDonald House 5K are from many local elementary schools, including Coralville Central, Grant Wood, Hills, Horn, Hoover, Kirkwood, Lakeview, Lemme, Longfellow, Penn, Regina, Twain, and Van Allen.  Each girl will run with an adult-her parent, aunt, friend, or supporter from the community-called a Running Buddy, who will join in the journey to celebrate each girl and her accomplishment.  “Seeing parents, friends and members of the community rally around these young girls is heartwarming,” said Cannon.

“We are pleased to allow the girls in the program to run for no cost in the Run/Walk, fulfilling our mission of directly improving the health and well-being of children,” said Carson Eggland, Development Director of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern Iowa.

Girls on the Run of Johnson County, Iowa is a volunteer-powered non-profit organization serving more than 200 girls in over a dozen area schools in Iowa City, Coralville, North Liberty and Solon. Visit www.girlsontheruniowa.org to learn more.

Here is more from the Ronald McDonald House Charities:

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Close to 1,000 runners and walkers will start their journey at the Ronald McDonald House of Iowa City for the 28

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Annual Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern Iowa (RMHC of Eastern Iowa) 5k Fun Run/Walk on Sunday, May 6.  But their journey pales in comparison to that of Myron & Shanell from Davenport.

Shanell remarked, “Myron & I have been at the Ronald McDonald House since January, waiting for our son, Myzaiah, to recover at the University of Iowa Children's Hospital.  It's been such a blessing to stay at the Ronald McDonald House during this rough time for our family.”  Over 1,600 families each year stay at the Ronald McDonald House of Iowa City, and proceeds from the annual run/walk help make it possible for any family to stay regardless of their ability to pay.

Race organizers expect another fantastic turnout this year's race, hoping to break last year's record number of participants.  Members from the University of Iowa Alpha Delta Pi chapter recruited over 160 runners and walkers to join their team.  Also, over 250 youth girls and their “running buddies” from the non-profit organization Girls on the Run of Johnson County will participate in the race

Both the 5k Run/Walk and the 10-mile route begin and end at the Ronald McDonald House of Iowa City, 730 Hawkins Dr., Iowa City, IA. The 10-mile race starts at 8:30 a.m., and the 5k Run/Walk starts at 9 a.m. In addition to the two routes, there will also be a free “Ronald's Run”, a short run for children led by Ronald McDonald at 8:45 a.m. A family-friendly event, there is no charge for kids in strollers for either the 5k-or 10-mile route. All proceeds benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern Iowa.

Major sponsors of the 2012 Run/Walk include: Scheels, GEICO, University of Iowa Children's Hospital, Adamantine Spine Moving, West Bank, Oral Surgery Associates of Iowa City, McDonald's and University of Iowa Community Credit Union.  .

For more information, please contact Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern Iowa at (319) 356.3939 or visit the website at www.rmhc-easterniowa.org.

Founded in 1985, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern Iowa creates, finds and supports programs that directly improve the health and well being of children. RMHC of Eastern Iowa provides care and comfort to children and their families by supporting its cornerstone program, the 31-room “home away from home” Ronald McDonald House of Iowa City. RMHC of Eastern Iowa also supports not-for-profit children's programs and students making a difference in Eastern Iowa through its grants and scholarships program.