A Mullica Hill charity will sponsor a hot chocolate 5K run and 1-mile walk beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday, March 8, at Chestnut Branch Park.
Smiles4Cures hosts the event to raise awareness and money for blood cancer research. The charity is represented by three Clearview High School students – juniors Grace Calhoun, Lily Pedersen and Rachael Williams – who will sponsor the charity in order to participate in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Student Visionaries of the Year program.
The run and walk will both be timed and participants will receive a T shirt, provided they register by Monday. There will of course be hot chocolate at the end.
“Whether you’re here to set a record, to just enjoy some exercise or cheer others on, everyone is welcome,” Smiles4Cures noted on Instagram.
Registration for either the 5K or walk for a fee online at runsignup.com. T-shirt sizes are available from XS to XXL. The run is open to those ages 14 and under, 15 to 19, 20 to 29, 30 to 39 and every subsequent 10-year group.
The run/walk is part of Smiles4Cures’ effort to raise $50,000 – part of which were proceeds for Jan. 22 – by March 15. They hope to reach the goal through other events as well, including donations, corporate partnerships and personal outreach.
“This prestigious seven-week national philanthropic competition empowers high-school leaders to make a meaningful impact in the fight against blood cancers,” noted the Harrison Township website. “By leveraging their leadership skills and community resources, students run independent fundraising campaigns.
“The team is incredibly grateful for the support received from local businesses and the broader community, recognizing that this collective effort is driving real change in the fight against blood cancers.”
To donate to Smiles4Cures or become involved with the group, visit its Linktree page.
“Team Smiles4Cures are visionaries who look to the future – and see infinite possibility,” the page noted. “Visionaries challenge the status quo, and make the impossible possible. They boldly imagine a better world – and lead the charge to create it.
“The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society was built on that same vision of a better world, one without blood cancers.”
