“We’ve done two 5-mile races in the past to sponsor student missionaries, but this time, the missionaries are actually ourselves. My parents, George and I will all be embarking on a mission trip to Zambia next year,” said Britni Brannon.
“We’re all excited and looking forward to the trip, but it’s not exactly cheap, so George and I decided to hold a 5k race to help raise the funds it’s going to take for the two of us to go. Like previously stated, we’ve done similar races in the past—the 27 Hill, Grassy Path, 5-Mile Student Missionary Run—to benefit students who would be spending time abroad in a missionary capacity,” she said.
The Zambia 5k is set for Sunday, December 2. Brannon and News hope to raise enough funds to go to Zambia, Africa as part of Maranatha Volunteers International.
“I believe our main focus will be constructing several One-Day School buildings to provide Adventist secondary education to the children in that area. But there will also be other outreach opportunities, like a vacation Bible school for the kids and a medical clinic if there are enough medical volunteers,” she said.
Brannon and News have also been active in helping those in need locally by organizing and raising funds for team events such as the 24 Hours for Abigail relay in 2009.
“Benefit/charity runs like this are always win-win for everyone! In this case, George and I will obviously be blessed with financial support that will help us make the trip, but the participants also benefit in myriad ways: the joy of running, though many might laugh at that, the knowledge that their money is going toward a good cause, and, of course, it never hurts to get a little race swag,” Brannon said.
“Most runners enjoy participating in a race—it’s even better when it can help others. And in the big picture, the people in Zambia are who this race is really about because God has plans for their lives to be touched by the work we do while we’re over there. At its root, this run makes all of that possible.”
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