Jan. 24, 2009 — The perennially popular Women's Jogger Jam has an added significance this year — it's a great opportunity to honor President Barack Obama's challenge to be of service.
The 27th annual two-mile run starts earlier this year, on Feb. 1, taking off at 4:30 p.m. from the Fruit Bowl in Wheatley Center.
The event benefits the Family Resource Center, which maintains programs for victims of crime and individuals involved in family violence or crisis. It also serves as a safe haven for women and children who are victims of domestic abuse or sexual assault.
The run had typically been held in March. Organizer Therese Hodge and Fruit Bowl owner Marty Goldberg say they decided on the earlier date to avoid conflicts with other island events. "This weekend looks clear," Hodge says. "All the elements are there. Starting a little earlier on a weekend where there's nothing else. It's conflicted with UVI's Afternoon on the Green in the past."
Hodge says this year she is hoping for 500 women. "We had 327 last year, and that's a record we want to break. We call it a run, but it's about the camaraderie, it's about bonding with one another, and it's about helping others in need," she said.
Hodge is a stalwart member of the St. Thomas Association of Roadrunners (STAR), which also receives a small portion of the proceeds. The event was started in 1981 by LaVerne Ragster, now UVI president, and for the first two years it had no sponsor.
All girls, women, toddlers, even infants in strollers are invited to run, leap, jump, jog, walk, or, if need be, crawl to the finish line. Hodge has organized the race for the past 10 or so years
The Fruit Bowl, which has sponsored the race for the last 25 years, contributes $5 for each finisher. Hodge says, "You may not think $5 is much, but it makes a difference when you're struggling to keep a child in school."
Goldberg says there's a problem with women signing up, but not finishing the race. "I'm always disappointed we don't get more finishers. I don't know what the reason is." Goldberg says the Fruit Bowl has probably donated a "ballpark figure" of between $50,000 to $75,000 to charity over the years. It used to go to Victim Advocates, now a part of the Family Resource Center.
The race forms at the Fruit Bowl, but actually begins at the entrance to the Schneider Regional Medical Center and proceeds up the hill and around the corner past Lockhart Elementary School and back to the entrance, twice. Each lap is a mile.
Entrants are given some sort of symbol to prove they've run the first lap, a swizzle stick or whatever, to clutch. Sometimes, that's all a runner comes home with, except for the exhilaration and fun of the race, and knowing that it has benefited a worthy cause.
Prizes are awarded in several categories including top three finishers in seven age brackets ranging from ages 7 to 12 through 70 years and over. A team challenge trophy goes to the group or organization with the most participants, and the first 200 registered finishers get T-shirts.
Registration is $3 for youth 18 and under, $6 for adults and $5 for STAR members. Participants can pre-register at The Fruit Bowl, The Caribbean Surf Company at Havensight Mall, Royal Dane Mall, Red Hook Shopping Center and at the Jackson Complex Wellness Center at Antilles.
Early registration ends on Jan. 31. Entry fee on Feb. 1 is $10 for all categories. For more information, call 775-6373.
Back Talk
Share your reaction to this news with other Source readers. Please include headline, your name and city and state/country or island where you reside.
