Birmingham’s April 15 run aims to bring hope to Alabama’s children
Children who have been treated at the Alabama Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders will be featured at Sunday's inaugural BHM26.2 race. Here, some of the kids get in a little running in advance of the big day. (Brian Neporadny)
Run a mile for a child and help make dreams come true.
Magic Moments and Children’s of Alabama are throwing a party in downtown Birmingham with their inaugural BHM26.2 race series on Sunday, April 15.
The event will include a marathon, half-marathon, team relay, 5K and 1-mile fun run, and will be followed by a Race After Party at Railroad Park featuring the Black Jacket Symphony. During the “Party of the Year” show, the band will entertain the crowd with hits from the past five decades and today.
The races will help raise money for Magic Moments, the only wish-granting organization that focuses solely on children in Alabama with chronic life-threatening illnesses, and the Alabama Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s of Alabama. The proceeds will go toward helping Magic Moments reach its 2018 goal of granting the wishes of 100 Alabama children. Since 1984, Magic Moments has helped more than 4,600 children in all 67 counties in Alabama.
The event will aid Children’s of Alabama in garnering funds for patient care, research and educational initiatives, and will help the center get closer to its goal of finding a cure for children with cancer and serious blood disorders. Last year alone, Children’s provided medical care for kids from every county in Alabama, 46 other states and seven foreign countries. That added up to 676,000 outpatient visits and more than 15,000 inpatient admissions.
“The BHM26.2 provides the opportunity for runners to interact with the children who are benefiting from the race,” said Sandy Naramore, Magic Moments executive director. “Every mile of the race will feature a different child who has been both a Magic Moments recipient and has been treated at the center.”
Naramore said the people in Alabama recognize the work accomplished through Magic Moments and Children’s of Alabama, and it’s that support that has helped make these organizations successful.
The route for BHM26.2’s full marathon. (contributed)
“The community awareness that results from events like BHM26.2 helps us share our mission, which is to continue to be a beacon of hope for kids and their families across our state and across the nation,” said Stephanie Moore, Community Development liaison for the Alabama Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s of Alabama.
Each race will begin and end at Railroad Park. For the first time in Birmingham, the courses will be designed with no loops or repeats, giving participants an overview of newly revitalized downtown Birmingham and surrounding areas. Some of the high points along the courses are Vulcan Park and Museum, Uptown, Legion Field, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, the Alabama and Lyric theatres and the Pizitz Building.
The top finishers in the marathon and half-marathon will divide a prize purse of $9,700. Relay and 5K winners will not receive cash prizes but will be presented with special awards created by patients at Children’s of Alabama.
Alabama Power is among the many corporate sponsors. Additionally, Alabama Power Service Organization-Magic City Chapter volunteers will provide a refreshing drink to runners as they pass.
“I am proud of our employees for giving their time and energy to this worthwhile event,” said Jim Heilbron, senior vice president and senior production officer of Alabama Power Generation and Magic Moments board member. “Magic Moments and Children’s of Alabama care about the kids in our state. They are committed to improving the health and quality of life of Alabama children who are suffering from cancer and other diseases.”
The Black Jacket Symphony concert will begin at noon. There will also be a fun zone and food provided by Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q and Coca-Cola Bottling Co.
Tickets for the after-party are $25 per person and can be purchased at BHM262.com. Children 6 and younger are admitted free of charge. All runners will receive a complimentary party ticket and can buy additional half-price tickets at the time of registration.
There’s still time to register for the race events. Registration information and pricing for each race category are available on the BHM26.2 website, www.bhm262.com.
