MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A 5K/1 mile event will take place in South Memphis Saturday to raise money to help students prepare for standardized tests.
The annual event attracts roughly 500 people each year. The money raised from the event will go back into South Memphis, something parents said was really needed.
The walk/run started about five years ago.
Organizer Darryl Jackson saw the need to encourage people to live a healthy lifestyle in his community.
“What we wanted to do is showcase that active lifestyle in a community like South Memphis, where you normally don’t see that, it provides the residents an opportunity to really come out and be part of an active lifestyle,” he said.
The money raised will go toward the ReadingWorks Library which is part of St. Andrew’s Ministry.
That means when students come there, they will be able to use laptops to help them prepare for their standardized tests.
Parents told WREG that is vital.
“I think that’s a great idea. A lot of times people cannot afford to give they’re children the necessary supplies for them for school,” said Gloria Mayfield.
“So it’s an opportunity for them to be in a position to feel as though they’re not behind; they’ve already been utilizing laptops, they know how to answer the questions and go through things like that, so for us it’s about the whole community and preparing our kids for a vital future,” Jackson stated.
Other churches in South Memphis will also join in.
Mayfield said this event is giving her a great outlook.
“It gives them a positive and it gives them hope that they can achieve; that there’s somebody out there that cares,” she explained.
The walk/ run will start at 10:00 a.m at St. Andrew Community Life Center on 1472 Mississippi Blvd.
Other events will take place before and after like zumba and a health fair.
You can register when you come.
It’s $20.00 for adults and $5.00 for students.
For more information, click here.