This is the 19 consecutive year of the Unity Run fundraising event and is one of the agency’s signature programs.

Unity Run 2012 will launch at Gordon Central High School. There will be a 1k Kids’ Run at 5 p.m. followed by a 5K Run at 6:30 p.m. and the event will wrap up in the heart of downtown Calhoun.

“We are very excited to present this wonderful event again and thrilled that Unity Run continues to be so well-received,” said United Way Executive Director Vickie Spence.

The registration fee for the 4-12 year olds’ 1k is $15, and the fee for the adults’ 5k is $25.

Transportation will be provided before the run, beginning at 4:30 at the Calhoun Depot. Park downtown and ride the bus to the starting point.

One elementary, middle and high school will be named a participation winner based on the number of students participating in relationship to the respective school’s total enrollment. There will also be two corporate winners based on most participating runners, and for the highest percentage of its employees taking part. Banks will compete for the same two opportunities to win.

There will be a new participation category for local churches. The Run for God winner will be the participating church that shows the largest number of run participants.

A Master Runner will be named in both male and female categories for the runner under the age of 40 with the best run time and Grand Master Runner in both male and female categories for runners over 40 will also be awarded.

Spence said they would be giving out the Dri Fit shirts again this year, because they had such good feed back from last year.

There will also be a raffle for a Vision Komodo Grill that is valued at over $700.

The raffle tickets will be sold at The United Way Office in the Calhoun Depot, Calhoun KOA Campground, 2523 Redbud Road, Fitness First 610 Redbud Road and the NorthSide Bank 1300 Lovers Lane Road. Tickets are $10 each.

Tickets will also be sold at the finish line of the Unity Run on Tuesday, Sept. 25 and at Harvest Fest in downtown Calhoun on Saturday, Oct. 27, but only 400 tickets will be sold.

The drawing for the grill will held at Calhoun KOA’s “Smokin up the Campground” BBQ Contest, that will be held on Friday, Nov. 30 through Saturday, Dec. 1.

The winner will be drawn at 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 1.

The winner of the drawing does not need to be present to win. All proceeds will go directly to the Gordon County United Way, according to The United Way press release.

“It is certainly unusual for a fundraiser to remain popular for this many years but our Unity Run shows no signs of having run its course. Every year, we are fortunate to have many generous sponsors and volunteer participants show up to support it.”

The United Way operates as an umbrella agency and funds 18 member agencies, and according to Spence all 18 of these organization are in Gordon County.

For more information on its programs, visit www.gordoncountyunitedway.org or contact Vickie Spence at 706-602-5548.