ARE YOU UP TO THE CHALLENGE?
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From its humble 100 person start in 2002, to last years 700 plus participants, the Law Day Run has been and will strive to be a fun way to help a very worthy cause - The Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation.
The Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation (LoLLAF) is an organization dedicated to assisting those with low income and in need of civil legal assistance. Handling: housing; family; consumer; public-benefits; health; education; and services for Senior Citizens and disabled persons, the LoLLAF is not a government agency. The LoLLAF exists in 65 middle and southern counties in the state of Illinois and serves as an advocate for those in need. The Law Day Run is one of several sources that provide funding to this great organization.
The founders of the run, the St Clair County Legal Auxiliary and the stimulus behind the whole thing - Angela Vassen, still provide guidance and much needed energy to the governing committee of the run. With the assistance of 3 time Olympian and Running Hall of Fame Inductee Craig Virgin, the St Clair County Bar Association and hundreds of volunteers, the Law Day Run has grown to be included in the Belleville Triple Crown Athlete Award. A three event cooperation between the Law Day Run, the Tour DeBelleville and the Gingerbread Run, the BTCAA is in its second year providing a special "athlete's medal" to those that cross all three finish lines. With 35 recipients the first year, we are well on our way to raise that number significantly this year.
The Law Day Run has grown into a tradition that this year makes another technological leap. From simple stopwatch timing in the beginning, to today's electronic chip recording, we have entered into the technical levels of races much larger than our own. All runners will be able to see exactly how they did from start to finish, no matter where they start in the pack. Their time is truly from the crossing of the start line to the crossing of the finish.
Whether you are a runner, walker, carriage pusher, or wheel chair racer, you are invited to take on the challenge of the Law Day Run 5K Run/Walk. After the completion of the 5K Run/Walk, enjoy our youth as they traverse either the full 1K Youth Run or "the Little Ones" 300 meter sprint. It is always a joy to watch these runs and encourage our young runners to continue on. The awards ceremony follows the youth runs.
The Law Day Run would not happen without the outstanding assistance of the City of Belleville, the Belleville Parks and Recreation Department, the Belleville Streets Department, the Belleville Police Department, the St Clair County Sheriff's Department, the St Clair County Bar Association, the St Clair County Legal Auxiliary and most of all - the Volunteers!
Starting with a small but dedicated group of volunteer committee people working year round, the race comes alive in the spring when many volunteers gather to design, produce, fixup, and stuff (envelopes). Volunteers provide needed "people-power" to man the check-in area, the water station, many crossing areas, the awards area, the Friday-night packet pickup, and a hundred other jobs. Early on Saturday morning, these volunteers take to the task of setting it all up. A couple even cover both the 5,000 meter course and the 1,000 meter course putting down the traditional lime "follow-me" line that stretches through the streets of Belleville. Many prepare for a day that will see serious runners, health enthusiasts, the occasional prankster, and a hoard of walkers and stroller pushers making their way around the town. After all the awards are given, and the last of the participants have left the staging area, the volunteers are busy once again tearing it all down and making it look (as much as possible) as if we weren't ever there. They are so good at what they do, you might not realize that everyone in the group is a volunteer!
THANK YOU TO ALL THE PERSONNEL INVOLVED!
Without you, the Law Day Run would not happen!