Memphis, Tenn., May 20, 2017 – On Saturday, May 13, the Bluff City 10K presented by Ashley HomeStore and their Hope to Dream program took off for its third year with 749 registrants signing up to support Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis’ work to help people build and improve places they can call home. The event raised more than $30,000 for Memphis Habitat and boasted a 15 percent increase in runner registrations from 2016.
Matt Weickert and Emily Farnsworth, both from Memphis, Tenn., were the top finishers with winning times of 34:25.92 and 41:41.72, respectively, in the morning run through Overton Square, Cooper Young and other parts of Midtown Memphis.
“I am so amazed, year after year, at all the people who come out to support our work with an early morning run through Midtown Memphis,” said Dwayne Spencer, president and CEO of Memphis Habitat. “Our local running community is so passionate about their sport and using it as a means to help local organizations like ours and local families in need of decent, affordable homeownership opportunities. Through their sweat and endurance, more local families are able to build strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter.”
Habitat partnered for the second year with Ashley HomeStore and their Hope to Dream program, which believes every child around the world should have a clean, unused mattress set to call their own. A portion of every Ashley HomeStore mattress set purchased goes to provide a free twin mattress, bed frame, bedding and pillow to underprivileged children. Hope to Dream received $1 from every race entry, providing five beds to children in need.
"We can have the greatest product at the best price, but if we don't serve the guest and give back to the community that supports us, we are spiritually bankrupt as a company. That's why events like this and Hope to Dream are so important to us at Ashley HomeStore," said Chad Spencer, president of the Dufresne Spencer Group.
The Bluff City 10K wouldn’t have been possible without the sponsors who came together to contribute to its success. Sponsors for the race include Presenting Sponsor Ashley HomeStore and their Hope to Dream program; AutoZone; Bank of Bartlett; Briggs Equipment; Matrix Achievement Group; Overton Square; Asics; SSR; BancorpSouth; Moe’s Southwest Grill; Sport Clips Haircuts; Shelter Insurance – Bryan Gore, Clint Alford Agency; The Casual Pint - Highland Row; Humdinger’s; Ultimate Foods; Brim’s Snack Foods; and A.S. Barboro.
Memphis Habitat partnered with Start 2 Finish Event Management to organize the event and will soon begin planning for the 2018 race. Local companies, organizations and individuals interested in learning how they can support the Bluff City 10K and Memphis Habitat can contact Josh Bailey, donor relations manager, at jbailey@memphishabitat.com or 901-322-3537, or Rachel Koch, volunteer and events manager, at rkoch@memphishabitat.com or 901-322-3504.
About Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis partners with people in our community to help them build or improve places they can call home through new home construction, rehabilitation projects and Aging in Place accessibility and mobility modifications for seniors. Since 1983, Memphis Habitat has helped more than 480 first-time homebuyers secure affordable mortgages and completed rehabilitation and home modification projects in partnership with more than 330 local homeowners, helping them achieve the independence they need to build a better life for themselves and their families. For more information, visit memphishabitat.com.