Wilkes Running Club is making an effort to help the high heating expenses caused by this winter’s frigid weather.
The 10th annual Relay for Heat, hosted by Wilkes Running Club, will take place Sunday, Feb. 23, starting at 6 a.m. on the Kirby Park on the dike. The money raised will help assist the heating expenses for local families.
Participants will each run a 4-mile leg of the relay, covering 100 miles in all.
The participants will mainly be Wilkes student, faculty, staff and alumni as well as any other members of the community that are interested in helping. Other than running in the relay people can pledge money for others to run.
“It feels good to go out and do an activity you enjoy, knowing that you are helping families who really need it,” said Dr. William Terzaghi, adviser of the Wilkes running club.
Just last year more than $2,500 was raised through campus and nearby community donations. The money raised goes toward the Martin Luther King Fuel Fund managed by the Wilkes-Barre Commission for Economic Opportunity.
“I think this is a great cause to be able to participate towards mainly because it is for the neighborhood that we live in or go to school,” said Justin Perez, running club president. “People can get involved and have a good time and exercise while doing so. The money going to the MLK Fuel Fund is greatly needed especially due to the winter we are having this year with all of the snow and periods of sub zero temperatures.”
Those interested in contributing can pledge a certain amount per mile covered or a fixed amount. Checks can be made payable to the Wilkes University Running Club, “MLK Fuel Fund” should be written on the memo line. Send checks to Relay for Heat, Dr. William Terzaghi, 84 W. River St. Wilkes-Barre, Pa. 18766.
For more information contact Terzaghi at 570-408-4762 or [email protected] or Justin Perez, running club president, at [email protected].