Owensboro, Ky. – Kentucky Wesleyan had several athletic teams make a positive impact in the community through volunteering at the Wendell Foster Half Marathon & 5K on Saturday, March 22.

Women's golf, men's golf, football, women's soccer, and men's soccer had athletes volunteering at the race. Each team had different volunteer roles at the race, as explained below per Wendell Foster Community Engagement intern and KWC women's golfer Avery Shacklette:

• "The Men's and Women's golf teams volunteered as a cheer section along the race route. Before the event, they decorated signs, and during the event, they brought a speaker and cheered on our runners!"
• "The Women's Soccer and Football teams volunteered at our water stations. We had 10 water stations along the route. Each organization that participated as a water station had to fill out an application because we made it a contest called the 'Water Station Showdown.' This was something new that we tried at this year's race to encourage non-profits to volunteer. The winner of the showdown will receive $1,000 for their organization if they're non-profit, or if they're not, Wendell Foster will donate the $1,000 to the non-profit of their choice. Each water station had the opportunity to choose a theme and be as creative as they pleased!"
• "The Men's Soccer team assisted with cleanup in Smother's Park after the race. They helped us load up all our race materials in our trailer. They also arrived about 30 minutes early, so they helped cheer on the last of our half-marathon finishers, which was awesome!"

The race includes many divisions in an effort to get as many people involved as possible, and as a result, KWC student-athletes were able to build community relationships with various resident groups in the Owensboro area.

"We like to market the race as a race for everyone because truly, it is!" Shacklette said. "We have a Half Marathon Division, a 5K Division, a Duo Team Division, and a Steps Division.

"The Duo Team division is where a runner pushes a person with a disability in a customized racing wheelchair," Shacklette said. "We had Duo Team participants in both the half and 5K. The Steps Division is for people with disabilities. They get a whole year to complete their steps on their own (26,000 steps for a half marathon and 6,200 steps for a 5K). They complete their final steps and cross the finish line on race day to be medaled for whichever race they chose to participate in."

"Anyone is eligible to participate in our Half Marathon and 5K divisions," Shacklette said. "We had over 1,000 participants this year, which is more than we've ever had, and nearly 500 volunteers! All proceeds from the race directly support Wendell Foster and its mission of empowering people with disabilities to realize their dreams and potential."

Kentucky Wesleyan Athletics is extremely proud of the positive impact our student-athletes continue to make out in the Owensboro community.

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