Sep 24, 2012
08:00 AM
A Caffeinated Runner’s High
Image courtesy of Bigelow Tea
What do running and a hot cup of tea have in common? The Annual Bigelow Tea Community Challenge, of course. On Sunday, September 30th, Bigelow Tea will be hosting their 25th fun run for kids of all ages. You can even bring your dog, if you want. It’s a 5K for runners, a two-mile fitness walk for those who don’t run, and a 100-yard dash for the kiddies. The event is rain or shine with a start and finish line at Wakeman’s Club in Southport. All the fun begins at 9:00 a.m.
After a quarter century of hosting this event, Bigelow has raised $700,000 to date in donations, according to their web site. While the first run only attracted 50 runners, over 1,000 participants now register every year. All of the donations are given to either Bridgeport or Fairfield-based charities. Bigelow Tea makes a point of impacting their community one run at a time.
“I can tell you I take a personal interest by visiting these charities regularly to observe, first hand, the positive impact these dollars make,” said president Cindi Bigelow in a company correspondence. “Each year I am overwhelmed by the enormous need here in our community and by the fine services these charities provide.”
This year, proceeds will go to 16 different local charities: The Bridgeport Rescue Mission; Burroughs Community Center; Cardinal Shehan Center; Caroline House; Center for Women and Families; Connecticut Food Bank; Fairfield Senior Center; Fairfield YMCA; Grasmere by the Sea; Janus House; Mercy Learning Center; Neighborhood Studios of Fairfield County; Norma F. Pfriem Breast Care Center; Operation Hope; Sandcastle Playground; Wakeman Boys and Girls Club.
Bigelow also noted that this race started on her wedding day, September 10th, 1988. She blew the whistle for the race to begin and then turned around and ran in it.
“Who could have imagined this many years later, that the little race we started so many years ago would be what it is today!” she said in the tea company’s blog regarding this year’s event. “Brings a big smile to my face!”
Bigelow Tea, a family owned business that launched its operations over 60 years ago, prides itself on giving back to the community. That sentiment is shared by the over 100 volunteers the company gets every year.
Open to the public, there is a $20 registration donation that includes entry to the event, free T-shirt, free Goodie Bag, free refreshments and a raffle. The event will take place at Wakeman’s Club at 385 Center Street in Southport, Connecticut and while early birds can register on the Bigelow Tea website, a registration table will open at 8:00 am on the day of the race. The Kids’ Fun Run (100 Yard Scamper) starts promptly at 9:00 am, followed by the two-mile Fitness Walk at 9:30 am and the 5K Road Race at 10:10 am.
For more information or to register for the event, visit www.bigelowtea.com.
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