Fleet Feet Knoxville Running Club Donates Additional Race Proceeds to Race Beneficiary, A Hand Up for Women

FLEET FEET KNOXVILLE DONATES ADDITIONAL RACE PROCEEDS DONATED TO RACE BENEFICIARY, A HAND UP FOR WOMEN

This past Thanksgiving, Fleet Feet Sports Knoxville and The Fleet Feet Knoxville Running Club, with the help of our sponsors, Tennova Health Care and New Balance, hosted the 4^th annual Hot to Trot 5K/10K and Fun Run on Parkside Drive. Proceeds raised from the race were presented February 15, 2013 to Eva Pierce, Executive Director of A Hand Up for Women, Hot to Trot’s race beneficiary.

After finalizing the numbers for the races, Race Director Shahin Hadian discovered that an additional $2,500 was available and on May 13, a check was presented to Executive Director of A Hand Up for Women. This makes the total amount donated as a result of the race now totals $5,000. Shahin Hadian, Owner of Fleet Feet Sports said of the additional donation, “When we finalized the numbers for our race, were pleasantly surprised that we had raised additional money that we could turn around and donate to A Hand Up for Women.”

Eva Pierce, Executive Director at A Hand Up for Women said of the additional donation: “What a wonderful surprise and blessing to receive a second donation from Fleet Feet Sports Knoxville! The timing was perfect, as we are adding new women to the program, just as we enter into the leaner fundraising months of summer. These additional funds will mean that more ladies will emerge as strong, self-sufficient individuals! Our deepest thanks go to Shahin Hadian and all the folks with The Fleet Feet Knoxville Running Club.”

With over 3,000 people participating in this year’s race, this is the largest crowd to date for this family-friendly event, which is held on Thanksgiving morning. During the weeks leading up to the race, Fleet Feet Knoxville and the Fleet Feet Knoxville Running Club helped host fundraising dinners at Salsarita’s and Brixx Pizza to help increase the donations and bring awareness to A Hand Up for Women. Additionally, graduates, program members and employees from A Hand Up for Women volunteered their time and energy to help stuff 3,000 race packets, direct racer and race traffic, hand out race t-shirts and more.

A Hand Up for Women, which just celebrated 10 years, was Hot to Trot 5K/10K and Fun Run’s beneficiary for the second year in a row. The local organization assists women in moving from a life of dependency to self-sufficiency. A Hand Up for Women’s mentors help the women move through a year-long curriculum which includes life and job skills, as well as spiritual development. The program lasts one year and once all of the requirements have been met, the women graduate and move towards a brighter future. The organization remains available post-graduation as a source of continual support to encourage long-term success.

Fleet Feet Sports Knoxville is a locally owned, franchised, retail store specializing in footwear and apparel for East Tennessee’s runners, joggers, and walkers. At Fleet Feet Knoxville, we take the time to understand our customers' footwear and apparel needs. We are centrally focused on running and walking, the unique sport and fitness needs of the local market are represented. Fleet Feet Knoxville will strive to become the heart and "sole" of the Eastern Tennessee running and walking community. The store along with the vendors will sponsor training runs and walks, clinics and vendor presentations. By cultivating partnership with events in the community, Fleet Feet Knoxville intends to make each running and walking experience the best it can be.

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