Road to Hope Shelby will receive proceeds

SHELBY, NC — May 12, 2021 — The 5K Race is one of the pre-American Legion World Series (ALWS) events that has drawn participants from an expanding geographic area every year. The 2020 5K was cancelled because of coronavirus concerns, as were all other events associated with the 7th Inning Stretch Festival.

In March 2021, the local ALWS committee made the difficult but necessary decision to cancel for the second year the poplar 7th Inning Stretch Festival, which has attracted as many as 20,000 people to Uptown Shelby in the past. Coronavirus concerns led to the cancellation, but the committee opted to bring back the 5K, which usually gives a running start to Festival events, and the Little Miss ALWS Pageant later than same day. Details on the 2021 pageant will be released later.

The American Legion gave the local committee the go-ahead for the 2021 ALWS in April. Plans for the 15-game national tournament are proceeding; the games are scheduled for Aug. 12-17 in Keeter Stadium at Shelby High School.

Each year proceeds from the race go to a non-profit. This year proceeds will go to Road to Hope Shelby. The Road to Hope Bike Ride is a 529-mile annual ride from Shelby to Washington, DC, each May. The ride ends at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, which lists the names of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty from as far back as 1791.

The registration fee for runners and phantom runners is $25; veterans and law enforcement officers who are runners will pay $15. Phantom runners will not receive race T-shirts or race bags; they support the cause but do not run or walk the course. The 2019 5K had 153 participants; the ALWS committee is hoping that number doubles for 2021. Registration is now open; visit the www.7thInningStretch.cc events page for more information and to register click here.

“Our committee believes the 5K and the pageant can be held with proper protocols regarding health and safety concerns and provide an exciting kickoff to the tournament,” says local committee Chairman Eddie Holbrook.

www.americanlegionworldseries.com . 704.466.3103 . [email protected]

The ALWS is celebrating its 10th anniversary in Shelby-Cleveland County this year. The ALWS committee is planning various emphases and events to commemorate the milestone, among them the fundraising effort for the Road to Hope Shelby. The Road to Hope Bike Ride is a project of Law Enforcement United, which supports programs that include Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS), Kids Camp, Young Adult Camp, Outward Bound, college scholarships, retreats, training and counseling, equipment grants and The Spirit of Blue Foundation.

TO BE GUARANTEED A T-SHIRT AND RACE BAG (FIRST 200), PARTICIPANTS MUST REGISTER AND PAY BY JULY 25, 2021.

For more information, to sponsor, or to add items to the race bag, call Race Coordinator Kim Davis 794-600-6599.