Special Kids will host its 15th annual Special Kids Race this month, the large community running event set for Saturday, March 14, once again starting and finishing at Murfreesboro Medical Clinic on Garrison Drive.

Proceeds from the event go directly to Special Kids and are used to cover the costs of health care and therapy for children with special needs.

With these funds, Special Kids strives to provide the best care possible to area families in need.

“We work hard to raise funds doing the Special Kids Race so that families don’t have to worry about paying a bill, and they can receive the same skilled therapy and nursing services that they would somewhere else,” said event organizer Holly Sylvester.

Participants can opt for 15K, 10K or 5K race distances, or participate in a one-mile family fun run.

There will also be a Family Fun Zone with food and activities that everyone can enjoy.

“We’re going to have a ton of free food—nuggets from Chick-fil-A, donuts from Donut Country and grilled cheeses from MTE,” Sylvester said. “We’re going to have face painting, fire trucks and big cement trucks from Smyrna Ready Mix.”

For many years, Special Kids has used events like these to bring the community together for a good cause.

“It’s amazing to see the support that this community has for Special Kids and to see so many people in one place just rallying around our mission,” Sylvester said.

Sylvester said she cherishes her role with Special Kids and appreciates the impact it has on the community, and the services it has provided to her own family.

“My son has special needs and he’s on the autism spectrum, and when he was very young he was actually evaluated at Special Kids,” Sylvester said.

Special Kids has given others the opportunity to have full-circle moments like this as well.

“We have a young lady that works in our office [named] Chloe and she works in the development office,” Sylvester said. “She actually graduated from the program at Special Kids.”

Along with the Special Kids Race, Special Kids hosts a spring and fall golf tournament every year to raise funds for special needs children.

To register for the March 14 Special Kids Race and for more on the event, visit specialkidsrace.com; learn more about Special Kids and its therapy services at specialkidstn.com.

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Photos Courtesy of Special Kids Race