Community Corner

University City to Hold Annual Memorial Day Run

The 38th annual run is Monday, May 28.

Runners will take to the streets today to benefit , U City in Bloom,  and the . 

The 38th annual University City Memorial Day run is today, with the first race beginning at 7:30 a.m.

The event was started in 1974 and taken over by the University City Library in 1984. For the next 16 years, the library was the sole organizer. It raised roughly $150,000 over those years, according to Linda Ballard.

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"It was a good fundraiser for us," she said.

In 1999, Ballard found she couldn't organize the run as it coincided with her son's graduation. That was the only year the race has not been run since 1974.

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The University City Children's Center came on board in 2000 and U City in Bloom and the Green Center were added a few years later. Now all four organizations help plan the event and benefit from its proceeds.

The race usually draws around 1,800 runners but has brought out as many as 3,200 in one year. Ballard said the weather plays a big role in the turnout.

"When we have good weather, especially if it is nice in the days leading up to the race, we get a lot of last minute entries," she said. "A lot of people wait to see if it is going to be hot or humid before they sign up."

Big River Running is helping to organize this year's race, which Ballard said should help the event run smoothly for both runners and volunteers.

"There were years where we did it all," she said. "It would take forever to tabulate the winners."

Know Before You Go 

The 5K and 10K runs begin at 7:30 a.m. in front of the Library on Delmar. The fun run for children begins at 9:15 a.m. for children ages 8-12 and 9:30 a.m. for those ages 8 and under.

Race day registration will be held from 6 a.m. to 7:15 a.m.

Check out a gallery of pictures from the .


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