{"id":8170,"date":"2017-10-03T16:26:22","date_gmt":"2017-10-03T20:26:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.atl.com\/?p=8170"},"modified":"2017-10-04T16:38:01","modified_gmt":"2017-10-04T20:38:01","slug":"mayors-5k-draws-masses-raises-funds-to-help-atlanta-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.atl.com\/atl\/mayors-5k-draws-masses-raises-funds-to-help-atlanta-students\/","title":{"rendered":"Mayor\u2019s 5K draws masses, raises funds to help Atlanta students"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Runners and walkers participate in the third annual Mayor’s 5K on the 5th Runway Sept. 30 at Hartsfield-Jackson. \u00a9 2017 Decisive Moment Events<\/p><\/div>\n

By Anika Robertson
\nSenior Editor\/Assistant Public Relations Manager<\/em><\/b><\/p>\n

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Before daybreak Sept. 30, nearly 2,000 runners and walkers took off for the third annual Mayor\u2019s 5K on the 5th<\/sup>Runway, hosted by Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.<\/p>\n

The race marked the last for Mayor Reed as Atlanta\u2019s leader. Reed conceived the event during his two-term administration.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt has been the honor of my life to serve as the mayor of the City of Atlanta and to be shoulder to shoulder with people like you who are such good, amazing people,\u201d Reed said to the thousands gathered.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s record proceeds will help Atlanta students with tuition through the Mayor\u2019s Youth Scholarship Fund.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe cost of college is a barrier to so many of the City of Atlanta\u2019s children,\u201d Reed said. \u201cUnder the leadership of Jannquell Peters, who runs our scholarship program, we are going to award more than 100 students average scholarships of $5,000 to pay for college.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to City of Atlanta estimates, race proceeds totaled $188,752, pledged and in-kind. Monies came from individual registrants, corporate groups and donors, including lead sponsors Delta Air Lines, Mizuno and HMS Host. Last year\u2019s event raised $185,340.<\/p>\n

Airport General Manager Roosevelt Council, Jr. urged the crowd to have fun and make history on the loop course.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday, you will participate in a 5K race on one of the flattest \u2013 and fastest \u2013 courses in metro Atlanta,\u201d Council said. \u201cUnlike any other course in the world, this race is set on our fifth runway, often called America\u2019s most important runway. Like so many of [Mayor Reed\u2019s] initiatives during his tenure in office, this race has really taken off, growing and improving each year.\u201d<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s improvements included a virtual race option for registrants and a drone that captured the activity overhead. Race-goers were able to meet hometown\u00a0Olympian track medalists Terrence Trammell and Angelo Taylor, and\u00a0Tri-Cities High School\u2019s drumline performed, boosting pre-race excitement.<\/p>\n

Once the horn blew, arm bands illuminated the darkness as participants raced down Runway 10-28. Many finishers took selfies at sunrise.<\/p>\n

Council heralded the Mayor\u2019s 5K as just one example of Mayor Reed\u2019s support for the Airport and community at large.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlthough [Reed\u2019s] tenure as mayor ends in just a few short months, his extraordinary achievements on behalf of this Airport \u2013 and the entire City of Atlanta \u2013 will reverberate for generations to come.\u201d<\/p>\n

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