Angels run (and push) for a good cause

Culture | June 21st, 2017

Do you have what it takes to be an angel? In this case, I am referring to donating your time, money, and physical endurance to raise money for running chairs for special needs adults and children.

You can be an “Angel Runner” and push an “Athlete Rider” through a 5K race or donate to someone who participates. The Ainsley’s Angels Power to Push Kick-Off and Sunrise 5K event is July 1 at 7am, at Bethesda Lutheran Church in Moorhead.

Everyone is welcome to run, walk or roll while supporting inclusion. Donuts will be served before the race and prizes will be given following. Although event organizers hope to see many people participating in person, you can also do a “virtual registration” where you “run where you are.”

Ainsley's Angels of America is a national organization with approximately 50 chapters. They provide running chairs to special need adults and children. They also promote involvement and active lifestyles for children with disabilities and emphasize the importance of inclusion and mobility.

Their website says, “ ‘In addition to ensuring everyone can experience endurance events, Ainsley's Angels of America aims to build awareness about America's special needs community through inclusion in all aspects of life, by promoting awareness, providing education, and participating as active members in local communities.’ "

The 7am Sunrise 5K will also kick off the Red River Ainsley's Angels "Power to Push" campaign. The "Power to Push" is a cross country run where Shaun Evans will run and push his son Shamus in a chair, starting in Moorhead and then down along the Mississippi and culminating at Lake Charles, Louisiana – an approximately 1600 mile journey lasting 28 days.

As they head down the route, they will be donating running chairs to Ainsley’s Angel chapters. This journey is replicating the first Power to Push which happened in 2015, where the Evans family also ran and presented more than 30 running chairs to children.

According to Christine Hamre, Moorhead, who is a local ambassador for the Red River chapter of Ainsley’s Angels, the Sunrise 5K event, has an early start to give participants a chance to “beat the heat and still head to the lake after!”

Hamre elaborates: “Most of our money is raised through donations -- both individuals and businesses. We also have some fundraising events and we sell Ainsley's Angels merchandise. We depend on donations and fundraising to purchase equipment, such as our adaptive running chairs and other things needed for the operation of our ambassadorship. 95% of the money we raise stays right here in our local ambassadorship. We have a variety of sponsorship levels.”

Hamre says she became involved because “I'm a runner and I have a 9-year-old daughter with special needs. When I found out about Ainsley's Angels a couple years ago, I knew I wanted to run with her. I checked into it and was disappointed to find that there were not chapters anywhere near our area.

So I thought ‘maybe I should be the one to get a chapter going locally.’ Since my daughter's diagnosis, I've known I wanted to do something in my life to make a difference for individuals with disabilities and their families. When Ainsley's Angels came along it was the perfect fit!”

IF YOU GO

Ainsley's Angels Sunrise 5K Road Race and 5K Virtual

July 1, 7am

Bethesda Lutheran Church, 401 40th Ave S, Moorhead

How to donate: online on crowdrise, or contact Christine Hamre redriver@ainsleysangels.org How to register: www.AinsleysAngels.org