-- Thousands will heed the call this weekend to lace up their "big old floppy red" running shoes for the on Saturday, Jan. 10 through Downtown Homewood.
The event, previously known as the as the Red Nose Run, will once again benefit the
Runners, walkers and children of all fitness levels are invited to take part in this year's 10 Mile, 5K or 1 Mile Fun Run. A Kid's Zone-- complete with an appearance of the familiar red-shoed Ronald McDonald--will feature moon bouncy houses and face painting clown volunteers from Children's Hospital.
Ronald McDonald House Charities' primary emphasis is to facilitate access to pediatric health care for residents of Alabama and adjacent states.
"a safe, affordable, supportive 'home-away-from-home'" for sick or injured children and their families when they travel to Birmingham for medical treatment.
According to the RMHCA , the Birmingham-based location is crucial because of the following:
More than 45,500 Alabama children have one or more disabilities.Alabama has the 3rd highest infant mortality rate in the nation.The number of low weight births has been increasing in Alabama over the last decade.Alabama has the 5th highest rate of preventable teen deaths and preventable accidents.Those statistics are then compounded by barriers to access to pediatric specialty care. Fully 75 percent of Alabama's children do not live in a county offering comprehensive pediatric specialty care and must travel to receive needed services.
The Ronald McDonald House is open 24-hours a day, 365 days a year to welcome families of sick or injured children.
Birmingham's Ronald McDonald House charges to per night for services that cost more than per night to provide. On any given night, the House accommodates 41 families and approximately 100 individual guests with bedrooms, cooking, laundry and recreational facilities.
of the funds required to operate the Ronald McDonald House come from local revenue sources, including special events like the Red Shoe Run, grants, pop tab recycling and support from McDonald's Restaurants in Birmingham and north-central Alabama.
Online registration for Saturday's run will close at 6 p.m. on Friday, Jan.10.
To register,
For More Information about the Ronald McDonald House and Charities of Alabama,