The annual Cherry Fest Run to benefit Nature’s Nursery is set for Friday, June 10. The event welcomes all runners and walkers. It offers traditional competitive race options as well as a kids fun run and the chance to meet some of the Nature’s Nursery animals.
The run has been part of the annual Whitehouse Cherry Fest for the past six years.
“We love seeing the northwest Ohio community out and being active,” said Julie Westenfelder, owner of Julie’s Fitness Studio. “The Cherry Fest Run has always brought out the best competitive runners in the community as well as children, adults and families who just want to walk the route for exercise and camaraderie.”
The event kicks off at 6:30 p.m. with the Kid’s 1K. All registered children will receive a T-shirt and medal. After the run, they can take a short walk to Julie’s Fitness Studio to meet several of the Nature’s Nursery Education Ambassadors.
The 5k run/walk and 10k runs begin at 7 p.m. The course starts at Whitehouse Park, 6751 Providence Street, goes through Blue Creek Conservation Area in Nona France Park, through parts of farm country, and finishes in the center of downtown Whitehouse. Adult run participants also are welcome to visit with the animals before or after their race.
“This run just has an added fun vibe to it,” said Allison Schroeder, Nature’s Nursery executive director. “With it starting and ending in the middle of the Cherry Fest Fairgrounds, there is just so much extra energy and excitement for both runners and walkers, and having the animals there for the participants to meet adds an extra incentive for people to get involved.”
All registered walkers and runners will get to meet the animals for free, other guests can make a donation at the door of Julie’s Fitness Studio between 6 and 8 p.m. to visit with the ambassadors.
Participants and guests are asked to bring supply donations for the nursery.
Items needed are: paper towels, canned cat food (meat/ puree), baby food, unsalted shelled pecans or almonds and dry cat food.
Registration, race times and event information are available online at https://runsignup.com/Race/OH/Whitehouse/CherryFest10K5K1WalkRun.
