Burbage Grant plans 5K

Published 10:04 pm Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Though it’s two Saturdays away yet, Shellie and Steve Whear limber up Tuesday for the Burbage Grant Fun/Charity Run 5K, Kids 2K. Steve Whear, its organizer, says the event will bring the community together.

Though it’s two Saturdays away yet, Shellie and Steve Whear limber up Tuesday for the Burbage Grant Fun/Charity Run 5K, Kids 2K. Steve Whear, its organizer, says the event will bring the community together.

The Burbage Grant neighborhood in North Suffolk hopes to increase community cohesion with a fun run, also raising money for charity, on May 3.

“It really goes along with our mission statement to have activities for our community and to just promote a lot of good family-oriented events,” said Steve Whear, a Burbage Grant resident organizing the event.

“There are a lot of people out on the running path frequently, and a lot that participate in 5Ks.”

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Starting at 7:30 a.m. at the neighborhood clubhouse, 6815 Burbage Lake Circle, the event will include a 5K course and a 2K option for children. The route will generally follow Respass Beach Road while winding in and out of adjoining streets, Whear said.

Registration costs $25, which includes T-shirt, water and snacks. The cost will drop to $15 beginning Sunday, but won’t include the T-shirt.

Proceeds will be split five ways, Whear said. The top-three charities nominated on registration forms will split 60 percent of proceeds, while the remainder will be split between the elected charities of the winning male and female.

“So far we are close to 20,” Whear said of the level of registrations as of Tuesday. “We expect about 50 by the time it’s all done.”

The event is being held for the first time, and Whear said it could become an annual affair if all goes well.

Whear has participated in “adventure races,” involving kayaking, mountain biking and orienteering, he said, adding, “I’ve done one or two other 5Ks through the military.”

The event will end with a pancake breakfast costing $4 per plate, drink included. “We have had some great help from Starbucks and Food Lion,” Whear said.

Bill Kinnard, manager of the Burbage Grant Owners Association, said the event would help increase the sense of volunteerism in the community.

“We’ll hopefully (in the future) be having a couple of concerts and family fun day,” he added.

Whear said the run would bring people together and encourage “neighbors to look out for neighbors.”

“I hope it will be an electric, fun-filled event, with people supporting each other and enjoying the day of fun-running and togetherness,” he said.

For more information and to register, visit www.burbagegrant.org.