DAHLONEGA - April 25 will bring opportunities to both the Dahlonega and Gainesville campuses at the University of North Georgia (UNG) for students, faculty, staff and community members to exercise with friends while supporting non-profit causes.
The Muddy Duck Dash, set for April 25 at 8 a.m. on UNG's Gainesville Campus, is a 3-plus mile run complete with mud, obstacles, slip n' slides, and a tree maze. The event is co-sponsored by health, physical education and recreation faculty and UNG's College of Education. Proceeds from the dash benefit the Southeastern Brain Tumor Foundation (SBTF) and the UNG College of Education scholarship fund.
SBTF raises funds to support brain tumor research projects and provides support, education, information and outreach to patients and their families throughout the Southeast.
"The Muddy Duck Dash is a great family-friendly event between UNG and the community that benefits the UNG College of Education Scholarship and SBTF," said Warren Caputo, assistant professor of education, health, and wellness, and the event's main coordinator. "This is our fourth year with the race and we expect it to be bigger than in the past, as we are reaching out to those who enjoy an environment that promotes family activity and fun."
All Muddy Duck racers will receive a rubber duck that must be with them at all times during the run. There will also be a duck decorating contest, and all participants will receive shirts. The event also offers a 1-mile Duck Dash for children and a half-mile Little Duck Dash.
The Allison Clapp Memorial Fun Run/Walk 5K will begin at 9 a.m. on April 25 on UNG's Dahlonega Campus. Hosted by the Tau Psi chapter of Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society, the 5K will follow a scenic route through the Dahlonega Campus and downtown Dahlonega. Proceeds will benefit the Allison Clapp Memorial Scholarship at UNG.
The event is in memory of Allison Clapp, an assistant professor of nursing and 1995 alumna, who passed away in 2014. Clapp often worked in the Dahlonega Campus Student Health Clinic and the Appalachian Nurse Practitioner clinic, and she served as president-elect for Tau Psi in 2013.
Registration for the Allison Clapp Memorial 5K is $40 plus a $3.95 sign-up fee, and refreshments will be available throughout the race. Race day registration starts at 7:30 a.m. The event runs from 9 a.m. to noon, and an awards ceremony will begin at 10:30 a.m.
Registration fees for the Muddy Duck Dash are $50 until April 24th, and $60 on the day of the race. Online registration closes at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 23. Race day registration will be available from 6:30-7:50 a.m. Registration for the children's races is $20.
Also, the Muddy Duck Dash donates any old shoes turned in to Soles for Souls, which provides shoes to the homeless.
