From Harford Community College:
The Fifth Annual Heather L. Hurd 5K Run and 1 Mile Fun Walk takes place at Harford Community College Saturday, November 9, at 9 a.m.
The race honors the memory of Heather L. Hurd, a history major at Harford Community College from 1999 to 2003, who was killed in 2008 by a distracted driver who was texting.
On-site race registration takes place in the Susquehanna Center auxiliary gymnasium from 8 to 8:45 a.m., with the race starting at 9 a.m.
Each participant will receive a T-shirt, refreshments after the race and two tickets to Harford Community College’s basketball doubleheader against Southern Maryland the evening of November 22. A headband/ear muff will be given to the first 250 registrants. Awards will be presented based on age groups and final times.
Tracy Hart of WAMD (970-AM) will serve as master of ceremonies, and the radio station will broadcast live from the race. WBAL-TV’s Sarah Caldwell will also be on hand. Other visitors include the Oriole Bird and Poe from the Ravens.
Many activities will take place before and after the race. They include the Maryland State Police’s seat belt convincer, which will demonstrate the impact of an automobile crash and the importance of wearing a seat belt, and DUI goggles that will simulate the impairment and danger caused by drunk driving. Also on hand will be a texting-while-driving simulator that participants can use to experience how distracted driving impacts operation of an automobile.
Exhibitors at the race include Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), Maryland Teen Driving Coalition and Allstate’s X the TXT.
The registration fee for the race is $20 per person in advance and $25 on race day. The cost is $10 for those under 18 years of age accompanied by a registered adult. Participants may pre-register for the race by visiting www.harford.edu/heather.
Also taking place at the run/walk will be a raffle. First prize is two tickets to the Ravens vs. Steelers game on Thanksgiving evening plus a turkey for tailgating. Second prize is a $100 gift card to Toys R Us. Tickets cost $5 each and may be purchased at the race on November 9 or by contacting Russell Hurd in advance via email at russlers8980@verizon.net.
The walk/run was established by the Hurd Family and Harford Community College in 2009 to raise funds for the Harford Community College Remembrance Book Scholarship Fund and to raise awareness of traffic accidents, their consequences and what can be done to prevent them.
Over the past four years, $47,000 has been raised by the race for Remembrance Book Scholarships, and 134 scholarships have been presented to deserving HCC students. The goal this year is to raise $20,000 and to attract 400 runners and walkers. Last year a record 315 participants raised $15,000 for book scholarships.
The event also remembers the hundreds of victims who are killed on Maryland roads each year and acknowledges the critical work of first responders—fire, police and ambulance personnel.
For those unable to walk or run but would like to participate, donations may be made to sponsor a participant running or walking in the race, or an outright donation may be made by visiting www.harford.edu/heather.
“Five years ago my family and I lost our Heather because of a distracted driver who was texting. Her death could have been prevented,” said Russell Hurd, Heather’s father. “For five years, this race has brought attention to how distracted driving can kill innocent victims. My hope is that those who participate in the race learn more about the dangers of distracted driving and spread the word so others won’t have to experience the grief my family has lived with every day since Heather’s passing.”
The Gold Sponsor of the race is Kent Schwab Allstate Agency. Silver Sponsors are AAA Mid-Atlantic, Blue Dot Services, C&S Wholesale Grocers, Cowan Systems, LLC, Kollman & Saucier, P.A., Laurel Bush Family Dentistry, Mid-Atlantic Foundation for Safety & Education and Law Offices of Jason Turchin. Bronze Sponsors are B. Michael & Sons, Cook Motorcars and Mars Super Markets, Inc. Blue Ribbon Sponsors are APG Federal Credit Union, Bay Bank, Beavers’ Auto Body Repair Center, Bel Air Athletic Club, The Bike Shop of Bel Air, BK Trucking Company, Inc., Boyle Buick GMC Truck, Canby Motors Collision Repair, Chili’s Grill & Bar of Bel Air, Della Rose’s Tavern, Distraction Advocate Network, Dixie Construction Company, Dry Clean Baltimore.com by Schroedl Custom Cleaners, 1st Mariner Bank, FocusDriven, Law Offices of Michael A. Freedman, Heritage Auto Mall, B. Tate Hibschman Memorial Book Scholarship, Klein’s ShopRite, McComas Funeral Home, MediaWise, Inc., ?Perluke Consulting Associates, Inc., Plaza Ford, Saxon’s Diamond Centers, Stay Alive… Just Drive!, Sunshine Designs and Thompson Toyota.
Harford Community College is located at 401 Thomas Run Road in Bel Air. For more information, visit www.harford.edu/heather or call 443-412-2449.
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