It’s a fun run with a purpose. Money Box Academy presents Fun Run Toward Financial Freedom on Saturday, Oct. 3 at Fayetteville Technical Community College. This one-of-a-kind 5K fun run is built with intentionality and community in mind. It’s more than a run; it’s a moment to bring the community together for movement, fun and education. Participants are encouraged to bring the whole family out.
The fun starts at 8 a.m. with runner (and walker) check-in, packet pickup and late registration. Stephanie Kegler with Dancing Without Sin will kick things off with a lively pre-run warm-up dance for everyone in attendance! The fun run is for everyone of every mobility level. The race begins at 9 a.m., with participants starting in waves; runners will go first, joggers second and walkers third.
During the run, the Kids Zone will be open to spectators age 5 and up, featuring bounce houses, face painting and balloon art.
Fun run participants won’t just be moving their bodies; they’ll be working their minds as well. Throughout the 5K course, participants will see markers highlighting financial literacy prompts, connecting the mind and body in a whole new way. Once the race is over, the event shifts into full-fledged community party mode featuring food trucks, DJ Fudgee, a vendor marketplace with local businesses and organizations--the perfect blend of shopping and education. There will be a post-run awards ceremony featuring guest speaker Councilman Malik Davis, hosting sponsor FTCC and run sponsors, Fleet Feet and United Way.
Money Box Academy founder Crystal McLean has been sitting on this idea for a while. She doesn’t do anything without a full plan and vision of execution, so the run was different.
“I kept watching health organizations use 5K races to raise money for their missions and thinking why has nobody done this for financial literacy? Health nonprofits figured out a long time ago that community races are a powerful fundraising tool. They bring people together, they create energy, they make giving feel like a celebration,” she said. “And I thought if we can use that same model to fund free financial education for Cumberland County families, then we have to do it. What sealed it for me was one of our board members who used to participate in the Color Run. She asked why nobody was doing a 5K for financial literacy, and I just said, you know what, let us be the ones who do it. And here we are. Which, by the way, is the first of it's kind in North Carolina!”
Money Box Academy has worked hard to bring this event to fruition with the community in mind.
“You do not need a race bib to belong at this event. The community celebration portion of the morning is completely free and open to everyone. Come hold a sign and cheer on a stranger crossing the finish line. Come enjoy the food trucks and the vendor marketplace. Bring your kids to the Kidz Zone. Dance to the live DJ. We want organizations, companies, sororities, fraternities, churches, and community groups to show up in their colors and represent their mission on that campus," McLean said.
"This is a community day as much as it is a race and the energy is going to be completely different if Fayetteville shows up the way I know it can. I just want Fayetteville to know that this race was built for them. Not for the serious athlete. Not for the person who already has their finances figured out. For the mom who has never run a mile but wants to do something meaningful on a Saturday morning with her kids. For the senior who wants to feel like this community still has a place for her. For the teenager who is just beginning to figure out what financial freedom even means. We built this for all of them. And I want people to know that what we are doing here is historic. This is believed to be North Carolina's first-ever community 5K built around financial literacy and financial freedom. Fayetteville gets to be the city where that starts. That is something to be proud of.”
To register, visit https://runsignup.com/Race/NC/Fayetteville/TheFayettevilleFreedomRunMoneyBox5KWalkRun.