Eager runners and excited families filled Faith West Academy’s campus to celebrate the Easter story on Good Friday, April 14,2017 at the first annual Katy Resurrection Run. Not only was the fun run a celebration of Christ, but also and act of Christ’s love.
The run raised about $8,000 for Faith West’s Eagle Initiative, which is Faith West’s outreach to the community. The Eagle Initiative gives Faith West Camp scholarships, and provides support to numerous other community organizations and projects.
“This is only [the Eagle Initiative’s] second year,” Kirk Rightmire, Faith West public relations director said. “Therefore, this is the most we have ever raised.”
Some of the organizations and projects the Eagle Initiative supports include: Caring4Katy, Sunshine Kids, Child Protection Services Adoption Day and Christmas, Boys Ranch, Good Shepherd Home, Star of Hope, Sunshine through the Rain, Faith West Academy Band College Scholarships, Hip Hop Youth, Friends of Sundown, and Katy Christian Ministries.
“It was a great way to give back to Katy,” Joseph Menslage, Katy/Fort Bend Christian Magazines publisher and Katy Resurrection Run founder said. “Katy has been so good to our magazine and Faith West is a wonderful organization. We are so glad we were able to serve them both in this way.”
The run, certified by the USA Track and Field, featured a 5K and 1K for the nearly 300 registrants. Results from the race are now available at resurrectionrunkaty.com. A special Kidz Fun Zone provided families with additional fun with inflatables and games sponsored by Dick’s Sporting Goods and The Church at Cane Island.
“There were so many great memories from the event,” Menslage said. “From the runners crossing the finish line to the children enjoying themselves in the Kidz Fun Zone, everyone had a good time.”
The event wouldn’t of been possible though without title sponsor B&B Butchers and the many others. The 2017 sponsors included: Adwebvertising, Covering Katy, The Katy News, ER Katy, State Farm Insurance Agent Matt Schomburg, State Representative John Zerwas, Christian trial lawyers Simmons and Fletcher and Belhaven University.
“We want to thank them for making this event possible,” Menslage said. “If it wasn’t for their generous time, efforts, donations and everything else, we couldn’t of pulled it off.”
The sponsors worked together flawlessly to host an event for the Katy community full of family fun, but also much more. For Christian business owner, Nick Covanes, Adwebvertising CEO and creative director, the run was a great way for Adwebvertising to put their Christian values into action.
“With [being a Christian and a Christian business], the ideas Christ taught of unity and helping one another was really carried out,” Covanes said. “Even though it is a family fun event, it is still nurturing the less fortunate in our society and helping them in ways that we may never see on this side of eternity.”
For the 2018 Katy Resurrection Run, the founders Katy/Fort Bend Christian Magazines and Faith West Academy have decided to move the event to Saturday to allow for even more families and participants.
“We were very happy with how it turned out for our first year,” Menslage said. “We are already looking forward to next year’s run and what we can do to make it even better.”
The founders also want to hear feedback from those who participated in the run. Participants can visit resurrectionrunkaty.com to fill out the feedback survey to help make the run even better.
Save the date for the 2018 Katy Resurrection Run on Saturday, March 31. Also, be sure to like the Resurrection Run Katy Facebook page to be the first to register and get news about the run!