Tuscaloosa's sugar rush: Krispy Kreme Challenge returns this weekend

Jasmine Hollie, The Tuscaloosa News
Updated ·2 min read

The Tuscaloosa Krispy Kreme Challenge, a family friendly race with a sweet twist, will return to Tuscaloosa this Saturday for the 11th year.

The event, which involves the option of eating doughnuts and running, will begin at 10 a.m. at Government Plaza, 2106 Sixth St. Registration to participate in the race is available now online at www.tuscaloosakkc.com, $40 for adults and $20 for children. The price increases to $50 on the day of the race.

More: Raising the bar: Druid City Brewing Co. expansion will beef up music, food offerings

The Krispy Kreme Challenge is one of Big Brothers Big Sisters of West Alabama's largest fundraisers. Organizers have coined the traditional race as the sweetest event of the year.

Charlie Hill works his way through his box of doughnuts during the Tuscaloosa Krispy Kreme Challenge at Government Plaza on Feb. 29, 2020.
Charlie Hill works his way through his box of doughnuts during the Tuscaloosa Krispy Kreme Challenge at Government Plaza on Feb. 29, 2020.

All proceeds will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of West Alabama, a nonprofit organization that provides mentors to children who face adversity.

In West Alabama alone, Big Brothers Big Sisters helps more than 200 children annually.

There are no fees to participate in Big Brothers Big Sisters of West Alabama because of fundraisers like the Krispy Kreme Challenge. The money raised will be used to pay fees associated with background checks on volunteers, staff who go into schools, and social workers who maintain the child/mentor matches, as well as other activities run by the organization.

The Krispy Kreme Challenge involves a test of physical fitness and gastrointestinal fortitude, organizers say.

Greer Gingery and Margaret Leatherbury, members of the Kappa Kappa Gamma team, choke down donuts at the Krispy Kreme Challenge in Tuscaloosa on Feb. 25, 2017.
Greer Gingery and Margaret Leatherbury, members of the Kappa Kappa Gamma team, choke down donuts at the Krispy Kreme Challenge in Tuscaloosa on Feb. 25, 2017.

To complete the challenge, participants will run 1 mile, pick up a dozen doughnuts, eat the doughnuts and then run 1 mile back to the finish line.

For those who don't want to eat a dozen doughnuts, the challenge has other categories for those who just want to run. There are multiple categories for participants, including challenger, casual and team. Casual participants are not required to eat the doughnuts. Prizes will be awarded to the top finishers in various categories.

In past years, Krispy Kreme has donated around 500 doughnuts for the race and the event has attracted nearly 800 participants.

Runners dash away from the start line of the Krispy Kreme Challenge Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020 at Government Plaza. [Photo/Joe Will Field]
Runners dash away from the start line of the Krispy Kreme Challenge Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020 at Government Plaza. [Photo/Joe Will Field]

The Tuscaloosa Krispy Kreme Challenge was first held in February 2013 right off Paul W. Bryant Drive near the University of Alabama campus, before moving to Government Plaza.

The original Krispy Kreme challenge started in 2004 as a challenge between a group of 10 friends in North Carolina and has since grown into a national charity race.

For more information, go to http://www.tuscaloosakkc.com/.

Reach Jasmine Hollie at JHollie@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Tuscaloosa Krispy Kreme Challenge combines doughnuts and a dash