Three years ago, Lucy Neher started work at the city of Takoma Park. She was tasked with running Safe Routes to School, a grant-funded program that needed a coordinator. She was a self-proclaimed pedestrian enthusiast, but had never run such an endeavor.
During her first few months, she came up with the idea of a race, which would not only raise money, but raise awareness about walking and biking to school. She didn’t consider herself to be a runner and hadn’t pounded the pavement since high school.
“I talked to the PTAs and everyone said ‘don’t do it, it’s so hard, you’ll lose money.’ But I said, ‘I don’t promise any proceeds, let’s try it and have fun doing it,’” Neher said about that first year where 350 people registered. “I also started running around the time of the race because I figured I couldn’t tell other people to run if I couldn’t.”
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Three schools received $1,500 each from the race the first year, taking the money to expand their playgrounds and programs. In the second year, they had 540 people register and four schools got $1,500 each. Piney Branch Elementary School, Takoma Park Elementary School, Rolling Terrace Elementary School and East Silver Spring Elementary School are all participating.
“It was a total blast and we did make money, despite everyone running through the streets in the pouring rain.”
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Lucy also requires each school to have a walking or running program.
“Piney branch has a running club in its third year. They train all spring and then run in the 5K in May,” Lucy said. “I go in and talk with those kids about safety and give them incentives and get them excited.”
Though Neher admits that there has never been an analysis of the effectiveness of the program, the Safe Routes to School grant was just extended to 2013.
“If they have an issue related to walking, if the pedestrian signal is out, they know to contact me,” Lucy said, emphasizing that awareness has increased of pedestrian safety. “If people say they can’t walk to school because they have to be at work at seven a.m., they know to get together with their neighbor.”
On race day this year, Neher will have 50 volunteers working with her at registration, refreshments and various points throughout the race. This year, they have 11 sponsors so far, which pays for the race itself so that all proceeds can go to expanding recess equipment and PTA programs.
“While we’re waiting for the race results, we have food and drink and most of it is donated by local grocery stores or restaurants,” Neher said. “We have music and sometimes we’ve had various sponsors and give out freebees.”
Fred Hargrove, one of the four volunteers from school PTAs, has been volunteering since the beginning. He said the volunteers take the race quite seriously, being the only stone-faced people in all the photos taken throughout the race.
"This event really brings attention to what Lucy does," Hargrove said, who has an 8-year-old at Piney Branch Elementary and a 4-year-old in pre-schoool. This year, he's taking his biggest role yet as the lead coordinator of sponsorship efforts. "The schools know where this money comes from and that the money used to buy gym equipment come from the funds from the race."
The race is the programs signature event, though Neher holds other programs year round such as a skateboarding safety program and a crossing guard appreciation day.
Want to go?
What: The Takoma Park 5K Challenge Safe Routes to School
Where: Takoma Park Community Center, 7500 Maple Ave.
When: Sunday, May 1, start at 8 a.m.
How: Early bird registration ends April 18, online registration closes April 28, $20/adults; $15/youth; $10 for the 1 Mile Fun Run
Want to know more? Go to www.TKPK5K.com or e-mail Lucyn@takomagov.org
