Driver run, walk and concert for StrongWILL

Published 9:39 pm Wednesday, October 16, 2019

People can still register for the fourth annual StrongWILL Charity Fun Run/Walk on Saturday at the Suffolk Seaboard Coastline trailhead in Driver, and also attend a benefit concert for the organization on Friday night.

The fun run and walk will begin at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, before the Driver Days festival begins later that morning. The event hit 200 registrations on Wednesday, according to the organization’s Facebook page, with room for even more participants still available.

People can register online up until Friday night, and last-minute registration and packet pick-up will be from 6:30 to 7 a.m. on Saturday, before all participants gather for a group photo at 7:15 a.m.

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Both the one-mile and 5K routes along the Suffolk Seaboard Coastline Trail and back again will begin at 7:30 a.m., and there are Halloween-themed finisher medals for participants this year.

Participants will enjoy light refreshments after they finish. Participants will have two hours to finish, and afterward everyone is encouraged to enjoy the Driver Days festivities.

Each registered adult will also receive a raffle ticket, which may be used for a chance to win one of several prize packages of their choosing. Every child who registers will automatically get a prize when they finish.

The StrongWILL organization brings attention to addiction, helps those in recovery and helps support those affected, as well as those that help them. StrongWILL President April Brooks founded the organization after her brother, William “Doug” West, died in April 2016 after his battle with addiction.

StrongWILL has donated more than $13,000 to Hampton Roads organizations that work directly with local residents suffering from addiction, and has donated 120 care packages for caretakers and families of babies born with addiction.

Their goal this year is to raise $9,000 to sponsor three year-long stays for those seeking recovery at the Youth Challenge of Hampton Roads addiction treatment center in Newport News.

“Our rough estimates are (that) we’ve raised about $8,200 after costs to donate to Youth Challenge,” Brooks wrote in an email Tuesday evening.

Travis Meadows will perform a Driver Days kick-off benefit concert for StrongWILL at 6 p.m. Friday at Simply Vintage in Driver. Admission will be by donation to the StrongWILL organization.

Search for “Travis Meadows Benefit Concert! Support Strongwill Nonprofit!” on Facebook for more information on the concert, and visit facebook.com/strongwillevents.org for more information on the organization.