Newton Citizen

By Crystal Tatum

Staff Reporter

crystal.tatum@newtoncitizen.com

COVINGTON -- The Covington Family YMCA is hosting the ninth annual Cheerios Challenge on April 17.

The event includes a 10K run, 5K run and 1-mile fun run/walk and coincides with National YMCA Healthy Kids Day. A festival will be held in conjunction with the race to celebrate that event, and will include face painting, inflatables and information booths set up by local organizations and businesses.

Last year, the event drew about 800 runners. Louly Hay-Kapp, interim executive director for the Covington YMCA, said she's hoping that will increase to 1,000 this year.

"We normally have participants ages 2 to 82 and so it's people of all shapes and sizes that come out and walk and run. Normally, it's a beautiful spring day and a good chance to be together and celebrate health and wellness in our community and raise funds for a great cause," Hay-Kapp said. "We have walkers as well as runners. You can come and push strollers. You don't have to be a runner."

Proceeds from the race will benefit the YMCA's Partner with Youth program, which provides scholarships to families who can't afford to pay the full price of Y programs and memberships.

The 10K starts at 7:45 a.m. and the cost is $15 to register and $20 on race day. The 5K begins at 9 a.m. and is $15 to register and $20 on race day. The 1-mile fun run/walk starts at 9:30 a.m. and costs $12 to register and $15 on race day. For a family of four, the cost is $45 to register and $60 on race day.

Sponsors of the event are General Mills, Advantage Fire, BB&T, Covington Police Department, LongHorn Steakhouse of Covington and Sunbelt Builders.

Registration forms are available at the YMCA, located at 2140 Newton Drive N.E. in Covington, or online at cvy.ymcaatlanta.org or www.active.com. For more information, call 770-787-3908.