Virtual Races Help Spur Donations
The American Red Cross is recognizing Gone For A Run and ChalkTalk SPORTS for their generous donation of $21,000 through their virtual race series “Running is NOT Canceled.” Their donation will help the Red Cross continue to deliver its lifesaving mission nationwide due to this public health emergency.
At the end of March, after the COVID-19 crisis had shut sports activities down, GoneForaRun.com saw the need to help empower people to keep active and continue to run to stay healthy. Knowing first-hand how beneficial running can be for maintaining a healthy body and mind, Gone For A Run sought to provide motivation for people to keep running while also helping others. Through its Virtual Race Series, Gone For a Run created the Running Is Not Canceled Virtual 5K Race, a unique race where runners and walkers can register for the race, receive their race package and run their 5K (3.1miles) on their own schedule and wherever they'd like to run. With this race, $5 of each race purchase was donated to the American Red Cross.
“We are grateful for the support of Gone For A Run, ChalkTalk SPORTS and to the community of runners who participated in this unique fundraising event,” said Mario Bruno, CEO, American Red Cross Connecticut and Rhode Island Region. “Because of their collective generosity, the Red Cross is able to continue to deliver its mission during this challenging time.”
In addition to the virtual races, Gone For a RUN also created a full line of "Running is Not Canceled" merchandise and a $5 donation was made to the American Red Cross for every item purchased. Also, the ChalkTalkSports.com brand created a line of tee shirts called "Sports Will Be Back" donating $5 of each sale to the American Red Cross.
“ChalkTalk SPORTS Group of brands is proud to have been able to support the American Red Cross through our GoneForaRun.com Virtual Race Series,” said Julie Lynn, CEO and Founder, ChalkTalk SPORTS. “This extraordinary organization saved our youngest son's life so it very dear to our heart. Due to an unknown rare blood antigen incompatibility we lost our third son. This same incompatibility risked the life of our fourth son at 30 weeks. If it wasn't for the amazing work of the American Red Cross to find and make available two pre-natal blood transfusions that saved his life.”
To date this community of runners and sports enthusiasts have raised over $21,000 for the Red Cross through May 19, 2020. For more information on how you can support the American Red Cross visit RedCross.org/donate.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
About GoneForaRun & ChalkTalkSPORTS
Founded in 1995 by a Mom (Julie) in her garage, ChalkTalkSPORTS began with a line of hockey and lacrosse apparel and games. Ongoing inspiration came from the travels with their 3 sons to hockey games, lacrosse games and track meets, truly living the sports lifestyle. Fast forward to 2003 and ChalkTalkSPORTS.com was launched. Soon thereafter it became a true family business when Tom (husband) and two of their three sons Ryan & Chris joined the business. The company grew rapidly by expanding into more youth sports. The team specialized in developing unique apparel and gift products to celebrate the team sports lifestyle. They rapidly expanded into new sports and new product categories. In 2010 GoneForaRun.com a sister company to ChalkTalkSPORTS was launched specializing in proprietary gifts & apparel for runners. From the beginning, an important part of the business model is to 'give back' to the community and ChalkTalkSPORTS has successful ongoing campaigns that donate to many various charitable organizations that support wellness and promote youth sports.