Jacie Smith is the 2022-2023 Operations Chair
Runners at 2022 KFTK Two years ago, I remember running with my mom on our family’s farm to complete the first-ever virtual Kilometers For The Kids 5K and Fun Run. Due to the pandemic, I was living with my parents, doing school from home along with engaging in extracurricular activities via Zoom. One such activity was Carolina For The Kids, a club that I joined because I had once been a child getting treatment at UNC Children’s Hospital. At that point, I did not understand the scope of all that Carolina For the Kids did for patients and families; I was just running in KFTK because I was a member of the Operations Committee.
Flash forward two years and I am back at school, still in Carolina For The Kids as the Operations Chair. I now understand the scope of all the CFTK does way more than I did then. When I am not doing homework or working at my job, I am planning out all the logistics of the 2022 Kilometers For The Kids 5K and Fun Run race series which is now hybrid with both an in-person and virtual component. At this point, I have spent about 5 months preparing for the race and now it is right around the corner with the in-person race taking place this Sunday, October 30th, bright and early at 7:30am.
With the race being a mere three days away, I am more stressed out than ever with all the plans swimming around my head. Despite this, I am also buzzing with excitement and anxious energy at the community impact of this year’s race. Similar to past years, we will have food and beverage from a variety of past community sponsors such as Brandwein’s Bagel Company and new sponsors like Starbucks and Dunkin’. For the first time ever, we are going to have other community businesses set up tables at the event, advertising their services as official sponsors of KFTK 2022. Most of all, though, I am excited to see the turnout of runners, joggers, and walkers as they all come together in support of the patients and their families at UNC Children’s Hospital. By turning out for the event, participants directly support our mission of providing support to patients and their families in order to ensure that kids can simply be kids!
Sign up for KFTK 2022 here:
https://runsignup.com/Race/NC/ChapelHill/CarolinaFortheKidsformerlyUNCDanceMarathon!
Flash forward two years and I am back at school, still in Carolina For The Kids as the Operations Chair. I now understand the scope of all the CFTK does way more than I did then. When I am not doing homework or working at my job, I am planning out all the logistics of the 2022 Kilometers For The Kids 5K and Fun Run race series which is now hybrid with both an in-person and virtual component. At this point, I have spent about 5 months preparing for the race and now it is right around the corner with the in-person race taking place this Sunday, October 30th, bright and early at 7:30am.
With the race being a mere three days away, I am more stressed out than ever with all the plans swimming around my head. Despite this, I am also buzzing with excitement and anxious energy at the community impact of this year’s race. Similar to past years, we will have food and beverage from a variety of past community sponsors such as Brandwein’s Bagel Company and new sponsors like Starbucks and Dunkin’. For the first time ever, we are going to have other community businesses set up tables at the event, advertising their services as official sponsors of KFTK 2022. Most of all, though, I am excited to see the turnout of runners, joggers, and walkers as they all come together in support of the patients and their families at UNC Children’s Hospital. By turning out for the event, participants directly support our mission of providing support to patients and their families in order to ensure that kids can simply be kids!
Sign up for KFTK 2022 here:
https://runsignup.com/Race/NC/ChapelHill/CarolinaFortheKidsformerlyUNCDanceMarathon!
Smiles all around! Sign up for 2023 KFTK today!