ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. – The Backpack Run returns this year to support the Roanoke County Public Schools Education Foundation.
The mission of the foundation is to provide support for students and teachers in Roanoke County through grants for teachers, scholarships for students and support for programs the school system is doing.
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They rely heavily on fundraisers and donations from the community.
“Our teachers come up with some fantastic ideas for exciting, engaging lessons. Sometimes that requires some supplies, especially supplies, some ideas and so teachers write for grants that the foundation provides in the fall,” said Chuck Lionberger, a Roanoke County Public Schools spokesperson.
Lionberger says the more support they get, the more they can provide to teachers and students.
There’s a 5K, 10K, and new this year: an in-person 8-miler. There’s also the backpack challenge, where if you participate in all three events you earn a fourth Backpack Challenge medal.
You can do all the races virtually and any kind of exercise counts - running, walking, bike or the elliptical! You can do a mile or two at a time and combine those miles over time to meet the requirements.
If you run in person, the 9th Annual Backpack Run is on March 19 and 20 at Greenhill Park. Lionberger says the course is flat so you have a really good chance of getting personal records!
Click here to sign up.