Run for the Animals!

Sunday, May 23, 2010 at 8:30 a.m.
Wheaton Regional Park, Wheaton, Maryland

Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary is hosting its 7^th annual "Run for the Animals!" The 5K run and 1 mile fun walk is a fundraiser dedicated to supporting the life saving work Poplar Spring does everyday. From the warm up, running and walking on the scenic trails, the dog and people raffles, the prizes, and the abundance of food, a good time will be had by all. The race will be held at Wheaton Regional Park in Wheaton, Maryland. Although dogs can not participate in the run, they are more than welcome to come out and join the 1 mile walk.

Registration fee is $25.00 for the 5K Run and 1 Mile Fun Walk prior to May 1, 2010. Beginning May 1, 2009 the registration fee is $28.00, and $30.00 on the day of the race.

Although not required, race participants can go the extra mile and raise additional funds online for Poplar Spring. You can even select a picture of a specific Poplar Spring animal to proudly display on your web page, and let your friends and family know about that animal as well as all the others at Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary. Prizes will be awarded to the two entrants with the highest pledge totals. If you are interested in raising additional funds you can use the following sample e-mails to send to your friends and family. (Sponsorship e-mail / Sponsorship e-mail referencing a specific animal)

Register online at: http://poplarspring.kintera.org
Online registration will end at midnight on Thursday, May 20. Afterwards you can register for the race at packet pick-up or before the race at Wheaton Regional Park starting at 7:00 a.m.

If you would prefer not to register online click here to access a registration form that you can print and mail to Poplar Spring.

Attention Walkers: For those interested in a longer walk you now have the choice of either the 1 mile walk or the alternate 1.7 mile walk.

Poplar Spring is working hard to make the race as "green" as possible. Click here to find out how Poplar is working to help the environment.

An additional way that Poplar Spring is working to improve our carbon footprint at the race is instead of having t-shirts produced for the race participants we are going to be distributing reusable tote bags, ideal for shopping, with Poplar Spring's logo on one side, and our race sponsors on the other. As most of you already know: the United States throws away about 100 billion plastic bags each year, according to the EPA, and less than 2% get recycled. Just one sad example of why we need to stop using plastic bags is that plastic bags cause over 100,000 sea turtle and other marine animal deaths every year when animals mistake them for food. This past June, the D.C. Council passed a bill charging a five-cent tax on plastic and paper shopping bags. We offer these bags to help you save money and save the environment!

We are collecting used athletic shoes, as well as any other type of shoe, at the race site to be recycled by Nike and/or sent to Africa for distribution (so bring your old shoes!).

All inquiries about the race can be made to: PoplarSpringRun@yahoo.com or call 301-625-9321.

"Run for the Animals!" PDF Materials