Cannon County cross country runners call Coach Brian Elrod “the Machine.”
But no matter what he’s called, Elrod and his students will run to support children during the Cannon County Child Advocacy Center’s 3rd Annual Cannon Runs for Children 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, June 8, 2019.
Registration starts at 6:45 a.m. at Dillon Park, welcome and instructions at 7:15 a.m., and the race begins at 7:30 a.m. The entry fees are $20 for adults and $15 for senior citizens. New this year, the event will be FREE for children and youth age 18 and under. Event t-shirts will be available for $15.
Runners and walkers may pre-register online at cannoncac.org or through runsignup.com by searching Cannon Runs. You may also register by contacting the Child Advocacy Center at (615) 563-9915 and requesting a registration form be emailed to you.
All contributions to Cannon Runs for Children will be used to provide services to Cannon County child abuse victims, child sexual abuse victims, drug endangered children and their non-offending parents and family members.
Elrod, who is the race director, said Judge Susan Melton encouraged him to get involved in the race and fun run.
“It’s a wonderful cause to help these children out, otherwise they might not have the funding,” Elrod said. “The Child Advocacy Center is great and provides for a lot of kids.”
A cross country team of Cannon County students and a physical fitness class Elrod coaches will run in the race. He encourages everyone to participate, no matter their running ability.
“You can run, jog, walk or crawl to support kids,” Elrod said. “As long as you’re out there doing it, you’re a runner. Anything you can do to help a child, you do it. It’s that simple.”
The Cannon County Child Advocacy Center works as a team with the Department of Children’s Services, law enforcement, and the District Attorney’s Office to respond to child abuse cases, aggressively prosecute offenders, and help children and families heal from the trauma.
Cannon Country Coordinator Cassell Galligan-Davis commented, “The Child Advocacy Center wants to say a huge THANK YOU to Brian Elrod for designing the race course and working his heart out to make this a wonderful event for runners and walkers of all ages.”