Hundreds of red balloons will require to the skies as thousands of runners and cyclists decide to try the streets in the seventh annual Alliance Data Red Balloon Run & Ride in the Children's Health Plano campus. The signature fundraising event, benefiting Children's Health, is scheduled for April 22 beginning at 7:15 a.m.
From a 1K fun go to a 72-mile ride a bike, there's something for everyone at the event, including activities for kids and families. The Run & Ride is made by Passion for Children's for the exclusive benefit of Children's Health. Alliance Information is the Run & Ride's title sponsor, and Capital One and Denbury are presenting sponsors from the family event, which last year attracted a lot more than 15,000 people to the Plano campus, located at 7601 Preston Road, and raised more than $762,245.
In addition to the pre-race registration fee ($5 to $15 for kids; $35 for those over age 12), participants are encouraged to support Children's Health by donating one more amount, or by creating or joining a current team committed to raise funds for any specific cause. Each team – this past year there were 212 – chooses a specific area at Children's Health to support with their fundraising dollars. Groups of grateful patient families, friends as well as the Children's Health caregivers themselves support cancer, heart disease, organ transplantation, gastroenterology, allergies, the kids Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern, and much more. When registering, participants can join an existing team, form their very own team, register as an individual runner or cyclist, or just donate.
Click here to register and donate!
\”Children's Health is a valuable part of this community, and the Alliance Data Red Balloon Run & Ride provides participants having a great chance to show that they are concerned about the kids and families within their community,\” said Joel Williams, who's the mayor of Highland Park, as well as the founder and president of Passion for Children's, that has been an advocate of Children's since 2009. \”The event also gives patients an opportunity to show their support and thanks to the doctors and nurses who cared for them.\”
The Red Balloon Run & Ride starts at 7:15 a.m. with a bike rally, by 8:45 a.m., the 5K cycling participants roll out. There are also cycling courses of 23, 36, 57 and 72 miles. The 1K fun run starts at 9:30 a.m., and also the 5K run/walk begins at 10:30 a.m. Concurrently, from 8 a.m. to at least one p.m., families and children can take part in plenty of activities and entertainment, from bubble-blowing and hula-hooping to chalk artistry and face-painting – all free. Food trucks on-site will offer breakfast and lunch fare, with a portion of proceeds benefiting Children's Health, too.
\”What a great opportunity for families to get outside together and revel in each day of fun and exercise, with the added bonus of supporting Children's Health,\” said Brent Christopher, Children's Clinic Foundation president. \”We are particularly proud to introduce Alliance Data as our title sponsor and also to join with them in supporting North Texas children their current address, learn and play. Children's Health does an admirable job of taking care of sick and injured children, but we also wish to encourage and promote healthy lifestyles to keep kids from the hospital in the first place. We continue being encouraged through the commitment and support in our countless Red Balloon Run & Ride teams – and, particularly, Joel Williams and the Passion for Children's organization.\”
Mr. Williams is part of the chief Committee from the Children's Clinic Foundation board of directors as well as an honorary life person in the Children's Health System of Texas board of directors.
In accessory for Alliance Data, Capital One and Denbury, other sponsors of the Red Balloon Run & Ride include Cigna, Granite Properties Inc., HilltopSecurities, The Dallas-Fort Worth Lexus Dealers, Occidental Chemical Corporation, RBFCU, Tom Thumb Food & Pharmacy, WFAA and Whataburger.
For more information, to register, to give, and to view highlights from past events, check out childrens.com/runandride. Share your photos on race trip to #runandride.
About Children's Health
Children's Health may be the eighth-largest pediatric health care provider in america and also the leading pediatric health care system in North Texas, providing a complete spectrum of healthcare services – from daily wellness and primary care to specialty visits and critical care. Holding eight disease-specific care certifications from The Joint Commission, Children's Health has been consistently named among the nation's top pediatric providers by U.S. News & World Report. The Children's Health system includes Children's Medical Center Dallas, as well as Children's Medical Center Plano, multiple specialty centers, Children's Health Pediatric Group primary care practices, Our Children's House rehabilitation facilities, home health, physician services, the Children's Clinic Research Institute at UT Southwestern, and Children's Medical Center Foundation. To find out more, please visit give.childrens.com.