Julie Brown with the Run for Rhonda joined Good Morning Keys on Keys Talk 96.9/102.5FM this morning to talk about the event.
The Run for Rhonda is a 5K and 1 mile walk and fiesta on May 3.
Brown said, “This coming Sunday, we’ll be doing a 5k and a one mile run or walk. And also we have a little quarter mile fun run for the kids, which is always a hoot to watch. It’s a Cinco de Mayo theme, so we meet you at the finish line with margaritas. And of course, we have waters and non alcoholic seltzers and all kinds of stuff too. And then we have a foam machine. We have a pinata. People will be out on the course cheering you on with maracas. It’s a lot of fun. And we do this in honor of our dear friend Rhonda Flores, who many people know. She was a rep for Cisco here for 15 years or more, and so she was very well known. When she passed away in a very tragic car accident, her girlfriends and I were all just kind of left stunned. I think a lot of people are just a little stunned that such a bright, energetic light could be gone so quickly. So we got together and said, in our grief, we will do something good in her name. So this will be our third year awarding the Rhonda Flores Memorial Scholarship. And that is a $25,000 scholarship that goes to a local student athlete, and it goes to a Take Stock in Children participant, so they get four years of college paid in the state for completing the program successfully. So our additional scholarship is in the first two years of dorm fees and books paid for so gosh, I don’t know if you had to work during college, but I sure did, and our very first recipient said because I didn’t have to work, I decided to go to EMT school, and that way, when I do have to work, I have a good job that is in my field, because she’s going into nursing. So just two years later, she just got accepted into her RN program, and she is now a licensed EMT and doing that on the side.”
Rhonda Flores was a dedicated runner.
Brown said, “Fitness, education and fellowship. Rhonda was a Take Stock mentor for I think over 13 years. Education has always been very important to her, so we feel like this is the perfect way to honor her and get together and celebrate. Last year at the event, so many people said, I’m so glad you girls did this again to bring us together to celebrate her, because she just, it really was a powerful energy. And we get to celebrate her and talk about her, and in a time that would be sad, on the anniversary of her passing, we celebrate and we put some good out into the world in her name. You can still sign up. You can sign up race morning if you want to get up bright and early, but we kick off at 8am. Sign up that morning and pack a pickup will start at 7am down at the Truman waterfront. We also have an online auction that will launch on Sunday. Race participants are getting a link a little early, so if you’re signed up, look for that with your packet pickup information. And we have hotel stays all over the country. Rhonda had friends everywhere. So we have hotel stays from all over the country. We have lots of bars and restaurants and boats and experiences and all kinds of great fun stuff. So that goes live on Sunday.”
Are volunteers needed for race day?
Brown said, “I think we’re looking good. Everybody loves to come out. We have some regulars who come out and want to put on their sombrero and shake their maracas along the race course. So it always keeps you going. So I think we’re good on volunteers. And of course, anybody who wants to come out just to say hello is more than welcome. It’ll be a lot of fun.”
For more information, click here: https://runforrhonda.com/v