The Polk County High School Band is stepping into a new role this year, taking over organization of the Coon Dog Day 5K in Saluda and helping launch a four-race series connecting runners with local nonprofits across the county.
The band will serve as the new organizers of the fifth annual Coon Dog Day 5K on July 11 and is partnering with three other established races to create the inaugural Foothills Four Race Series.
“We had been in the very beginning stages of trying to plan a 5K fundraiser,” said Polk County High School Band Director Kimberley Benson. “We ended up deciding to push it back one more year, and I mentioned this as an aside when meeting with the Polk County Community Foundation.”
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The timing proved fortuitous. Saluda Elementary staff had decided they no longer had the capacity to continue running the 5K, and Kevin Burnett, founder of the Coon Dog Day 5K, happened to be in Benson’s meeting with the foundation.
“He contacted me a few days later to offer us the opportunity to take over the race,” Benson said. “This is a well-established race and we are excited to be the new stewards of this community event.”
Runners familiar with the Coon Dog Day 5K won’t see many changes, though Benson said there will be more music along the route.
The Foothills Four Race Series was the idea of a band parent who is heavily involved with planning the Ache Around the Lake 8K, one of the four races in the series.
“She came up with the idea to help all four of the local races cross-promote to try and reach a larger audience,” Benson said. “All four races help raise money for some amazing groups with important causes, and we hope this series increases local awareness of the four nonprofits and their fundraising efforts.”
The series includes the Harmon Field Half Marathon on April 25, the Coon Dog Day 5K on July 11, the Ache Around the Lake 8K and 2 Mile OUCH on October 10, and the Run for Outreach Half Marathon and Fall for the Foothills 5K on November 14.
Sponsorship of the Coon Dog Day 5K will provide direct support to the band program, allowing the purchase of new music and equipment, repair and replacement of instruments, and offsetting expenses for activities such as All-District Band, Solo and Small Ensemble Festival and field trips.
“Band is just a very expensive activity, and as we keep growing, expenses do, too,” Benson said.
High school band students will soon be approaching local businesses with sponsorship packets. Anyone interested in sponsorship can email Benson at [email protected].
Race registration for the Coon Dog Day 5K is now open at a discounted rate of $25 through May 4. Registration is available at https://runsignup.com/Race/NC/Saluda/CoonDogDayRace.
