On the overcast Sunday morning of September 25, twenty-eight Team MSC racers arrived as the sun began to rise, for the 2016 Chicago Half Marathon & 5k races located in Jackson Park. In partnership with Harvest Christian Academy led by Athletic Director, David Lockwood, another 115 student volunteers also rose early to head down to the race to volunteer at aid stations and the finish line all to support Mitchell Swaback Charities.
What an amazing morning we were all blessed with as team finishers young and old took to the course and ran their races well. Our ‘most matured’ team racer was 89 ½ year-old Chuck Sampson, who for the 2nd time took on the 5th course! Our youngest team athlete was Alijah Thompson, who at 10 years-old finished his first Chicago 5k race in 28:34! A big shout out to Team MSC member Steven Bland who finished the half marathon in 1:21:50 finishing 1st in his age group and 19th overall among 8,529 runners!
Team MSC was not only recognized on the courses, this team showed up BIG in the fundraising department! Being down 22 runners from last year’s race, we weren’t actually sure how Team MSC would reach our fundraising goal of $75,000.00. Days before race day, we were still thousands short, but that is actually when God shows up BIG! Not only did this 75k number seem unreachable, we weren’t even sure we’d be close. Today we can report that we have officially raised $84,590.00 with donations still coming in!
All of us at MSC/HCC are extremely thankful for each team member’s dedication and partnership to this year’s fall fundraiser as we are once again stand in awe as to what the Lord has done. Thank you to each and every team member, for reaching out to others asking them to support what we do, for coming out bright and early on race day to hit the pavement and for your love and support! Thank you to Harvest Christian Academy for your continued partnership and for each student-athlete who came out to support our cause; what an amazing group of students! Thank you to David Lockwood for organizing HCA’s team involvement; NYC Bagel Deli for providing the morning with fresh bagels, fruit and pizza; Gold Pyramid Mineral Water for providing water for the morning; and to all our dear friends who came to help pass out shirts and run our team tent!
This was truly a TEAM EFFORT, and one of the most exciting races because of the uphill team goals we were trying to achieve. We give God the glory for these provisions as we will be able to continue to serve the needy, widowed, sick, jobless, orphaned, and lost each and every week. #TeamMSC