News & Events
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Cardinal's Spirit Sprint 5k Featured in Suburban News Publications
Gahanna and Reynoldsburg team up for 5K walk/run
By Pam Willis, Suburban News Publications
Gahanna and Reynoldsburg Schools are racing to rev up school spirit with a registration competition for the inaugural Spirit Sprint 5K Run/Walk.
Sponsored by The Cardinal Orthopaedic Institute to benefit both districts' Safe Routes to Schools programs, the Spirit Sprint 5K will begin at 9 a.m. Sunday, April 11 at the Cardinal Orthopaedic Institute, 170 Taylor Station Road. Race day registration begins at 8 a.m.
Cardinal is creating a family-friendly carnival atmosphere for the event, bringing in inflatables, plus music and refreshments for all participants, said Stephanie Rauschenbach, Cardinal's marketing director.
The race for registration has already begun as the districts try to register the most race participants.The school district with the most registered participants will earn 75 percent of the registration proceeds and the runner-up will earn the remaining 25 percent.
Runners not affiliated with either school are also welcome, Rauschenbach said.
A T-shirt and refreshments will be provided to all participants and awards will be presented to the top five male and top female finishers.
Rauschenbach said she brought the idea for the walk/run to Tricia Moore, community outreach coordinator for Reynoldsburg City Schools, and Moore suggested the tie-in to both districts' walk and bike to school programs.
"The goal of Safe Routes is to improve safety and encourage more children to walk and bike to school," Rauschenbach said.
"In the process, the programs are working to improve overall physical health, reduce traffic congestion and better the environment, making communities more livable for everyone."
Cardinal is sponsoring the event to engage with both communities.
"Our practice had been in the Gahanna and Reynoldsburg area for some time, but we previously operated out of two separate locations," Rauschenbach said.
"Just this past November, we merged into the Taylor Station Road location ... I think this is a unique opportunity for us to get engaged with the community."
Gahanna and Reynoldsburg school districts created Safe Routes to School travel plans last fall.
About 275 Lincoln Elementary students and staff members made their way to school via foot, bike or scooter Oct. 21, and about 68 Jefferson students walked to school with Gahanna Schools Superintendent Gregg Morris, Amanda McEldowney from the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission and Principal Roben Frenzel the following day.
Typically, 8.5 percent of Lincoln students and 4.3 percent of Jefferson students walk or bike to school, according to each school's Safe Routes to School Travel Plans.
Kate Moening, marketing coordinator for Gahanna Parks & Recreation, said the 5K walk/run will not only benefit both school districts, but send a message of health and safety to everyone involved.
"I'm happy that Gahanna was invited to participate in the very first Spirit Sprint, because the message of health, wellness and safety and school spirit is a great message for everyone," Moening said.
Early registration, which is available until April 1, is $20 per person. After that date, registration is $25.
To register, go online at cardinalortho.com or premierraces.com, or to find a registration site nearest you, call 614-545-7914.
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