DOVER, NH — Once again, a few brave souls from the Portsmouth Christian Academy at Dover Cross Country team will shed their shoes and run barefoot for a cause. Covering just over 3 miles of grass, fields, asphalt, and trails, the race is a benefit fundraiser for Samaritan’s Feet, an organization dedicated to providing shoes to 10 million impoverished children around the world over the next 10 years. The family-friendly run/walk will welcome everyone from competitive runners to families with strollers. The race begins at the Portsmouth Christian Academy soccer field at 10 a.m. with registration from 8:45 to 9:45 a.m. on Saturday, October 16.

“Our beautiful and well-maintained campus affords us the luxury of safely running barefoot,” said PCA Assistant Coach Naomi Crystal (Class of 2005). “What we do for pleasure, many kids do out of necessity. It is particularly meaningful to our athletes to take their shoes off for this event so others may put shoes on."

Sponsored by the PCA Cross Country team, this event promises to be an enjoyable day for the entire family. Children under 10 years can participate in a free fun run of ¼ mile at 9:45 a.m. prior to the race and there will be a T-shirt making activity along with complimentary refreshments after the race. The team will also be collecting used athletic shoes for the Nike Reuse-a-Shoe Program. Bring any brand of used athletic footwear (no cleats, sandals, or dress shoes) throughout the day to be donated and recycled into basketball courts, tracks, sports fields, and playgrounds.

“Last year, the turnout from the community was impressive,” said PCA Head Coach Mike Shevenell. “Some runners drove 1 ½ hours to participate. We donated $800 to Samaritan’s Feet and approximately 200 pairs of shoes were donated to the Nike Reuse-a-Shoe Program.”

Those wishing to participate  — with shoes or without — in the Samaritan’s Feet 5k Run/Walk may register at https://www.signmeup.com/site/reg/register.aspx?fid=HC2VZJ7 , call race coordinator Mike Shevenell at 603-743-6343, or register on race day beginning at 8:45 a.m. The entry fee is $15 ($17 after 10/9/10). 100% of all registration and entry fees (except online processing fees) will be donated directly to Samaritan’s Feet. Five dollars purchases and delivers a pair of shoes to a child in need.

Portsmouth Christian Academy is located at 20 Seaborne Drive, Dover, NH. Directions to the school can be found on its website, www.pcaschool.org. For more information, please call Mike at 603.743.6343.
 

Pictured above are runners at the start gate of last year’s race. Members of the Portsmouth Christian Academy Cross Country Track Team symbolically ditched their shoes to raise awareness and money for an organization with a mission to bring shoes to 10 million impoverished children around the world over the next 10 years. The Samaritan’s Feet 5k run/walk will take place on Oct. 16 at 10 a.m. beginning at the PCA soccer field. Participants can run or walk this event and have the option to compete in a “barefoot” category.