10th Annual Hot Pursuit 5K Run Set For July 26th in Shreveport

The Salvation Army Shreveport Corps (TSA) and The Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club of Shreveport (TSABGC) have set the date for the 10th annual Hot Pursuit 5K fundraiser run.

The race is at 8:00 a.m., July 26, 2014, with the starting line-up beginning at the facility located at 2821 Greenwood Road.

Each year, the race attracts around 400 runners from the local area and raises about $34,000 from entry fees and sponsorships. With a new "flat and fast" race course, promoters are hoping to increase the number of runners to 500 for the 2014 run. Good eats and good music will be featured during the Club’s open house, which will immediately follow the race.

Funds raised at the Hot Pursuit Run will help support a new summer learning program called Summer Brain Gain. The program is comprised of 10 one-week modules and involves fun, themed activities for elementary school, middle school and high school students.

Supported by Disney and developed specifically for Boys and Girls Clubs of America, each module will use a project-based learning approach with applications in discovery, creative expression, group work and a final project or production.

"This is a fun and creative way to get the community involved in our mission of providing free summer and after-school programs to all school-age children and especially for children from underserved communities," said The Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club Executive Director Paige Smith. "Every dollar raised at this event will go directly back into the community by investing in the future of these children."

Some additional info, via a news release from TSABGC:

The Club has over 2200 registered members and serves an average of 100 children per day in the summer program and an average of 85 children per day in the after school program. The Club focuses on five core principles year-round: influencing youth to curtail substance abuse, decrease gang involvement and violence, reduce teen pregnancy by promoting sexual abstinence, decrease the number of high-school dropouts and improving school academic achievement and behavior.

Each summer, an estimated 43-million children in the U.S. miss out on expanded learning opportunities that could prevent them from falling behind before the next school year begins. During the summer, most youth lose about two months’ worth of math skills. Low-income youth also lose more than two months’ worth of reading skills, while their middle-class peers make slight gains.

The Club is located near the Fairgrounds Fields Park and for the most part, is the only place where Club members can go to learn and feel safe."Not only do Club members enjoy the fun atmosphere here, they want to be here. They make friends, meet with their mentors and begin to work toward reaching their educational goals and making better lifestyle choices," said Smith.