Amarillo turns out for Cold As Ice run for charity
The 14th annual Cold As Ice run kicked off Saturday, with more than 100 runners of all ages running to raise money for charity. Proceeds from the event go to The Bridge Children’s Advocacy Center, which works with abused children in the Texas Panhandle.
Karen Roberts is owner of Get Fit, a running specialty store that sells shoes, clothes, and equipment for runners of all skill sets. Get Fit is in its 13th year of business and gives classes and advice for novice runners and puts on events in the community, including Saturday's run.
“I am a big advocate for giving back to the community, and The Bridge is a great organization that I have been aware of for years with the work they do for children,” Roberts said. "It’s a great way to come out and get exercise and to do something good for charity."
Roberts said that each event usually raises about $5,000 for The Bridge, and they do at least three events per year. Other running events sponsored by Get Fit include Hot Blooded, a summer event, and the Mayor’s Run in September.
Saturday’s events included a one-mile run along with a five- and ten-kilometer run.
Among the runners was a group of students from Cactus Elementary School, which is about 60 miles north of Amarillo.
TJ Funderburg, principal at Cactus Elementary School, brought 20 of his best students out to the event.
Funderburg said that he started the Cactus Run Club at his school as a way to get the students in better shape. He said that the school started challenging his kids to run around the school, which was around half a mile. The goal for each kid was to run a hundred miles in a school year, and some kids have surpassed 200 miles in the school year. He said this inspired him to have some of the kids start running some 5-kilometer runs, such as the “Cold As Ice” event, to get experience.
“These kids love to run; they got up early on Saturday morning with temperatures of 25 degrees and drove an hour just to run here today,” Funderburg said. “They love being around each other for events like this; they really have fun.”
Asked what inspired him to implement the Cactus Run Club, Funderburg said that a program nationally called the 100-mile club made him think about adapting it to something that could fit his school. He said that the school averages about 50 to 60 kids out running each Tuesday and Thursday.
Running in Saturday’s event were his group of 20 third- and fourth-graders who ran the 5K all with big smiles as they crossed the finish line.
“We want to get as many students involved in running. Kids need to be active, and there is too must sitting among our kids today,” Funderburg said. “You do not have to be a great runner to run; you just have to start. I am proud of their efforts today.”
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo turns out for Get Fit's Cold As Ice run, Bridge fundraiser
