Tuesday, July 3, 2007* 7:00 PM * The Racquet Club

WELCOME TO ............THE NINTH COMCAST FIRECRACKER 5K RUN/WALK FOR ST. JUDE 5K EXPO

Join us Tuesday, July 3, 7:00 PM for the Ninth Annual Comcast Firecracker 5K Run/Walk to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital! This 5K event is hosted by The Racquet Club of Memphis, and presented by Oak Hall, Suntrust Bank, Bryan Foods, Fleet Feet, Q107.5, Allstate, Menard Gates and Mathis, and  the Ognibene Clinic

Be a part of this summer evening of fun and celebration for the entire family. It's Tennessee's RRCA 5K state championship. It's a dance and pool party. And it's a chance to support the children of St. Jude. In just eight years, this event has become the second largest footrace in Memphis, with over 2,200 entrants last year and a total contribution of $270,000 to the hospital.

The 3.1-mile race will again be managed by the Memphis Runners Track Club and Best Times, and will again feature computer chips as timing devices. Everyone entering before 6pm on race day will be issued a ChampionChip, which will attach to your running shoe and immediately identify and post your time as you cross the finish line. *Anyone registering after 6pm on race day will not receive a chip or time but will be eligible to run, receive a race T-shirt and enjoy all of the post-race activities.

The dream started with Danny Thomas and his hope that "no child should die in the dawn of life."  Memphis was fortunate to be the site he chose to build St. Jude's Children's Hospital.  Our charge is to keep these hopes and dreams alive.
 
The Firecracker 5K Run for St Jude is one way to do that while celebrating the life that many have been given through the generosity of others.  Since 1999 when the Firecracker 5K began, we have raised over $270,000.  Sadly, one of the organizers of this race, "Libby" Stooksberry Wittenberg, fell victim to brain cancer before the race began.  Each year, we honor her memory and work to build on her goals. This year the Firecracker 5K Run/Walk For St. Jude had over 2,200 runners and walkers stroll the streets in an effort to raise money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Reid Hedgepeth fired the gun that started the footrace for 2100++ runners/walkers and strollers that wound around the streets of East Memphis.
 
In 2006, Bryan Baddorf snapped the tape in 15:26 and top female was Denise Bargiachi with a time of 17:48.