The Indian Land High’s Interact Club and Indian Land Rotary Club are gearing up for the third annual ButterFive-K.
The race begins at 8 a.m. Saturday, April 13, at Indian Land High’s butterfly garden, and registration to run is open now through race day. Proceeds from the race help support the pollinator garden, a joint project of the Interact Club and Indian Land Rotary Club.
“Runners will enjoy the beautiful scenery of the campus from the Rotary’s pollination garden to the state-of-the-art athletics facilities,” said APEX race promoter John Bodner. “I think people will be excited to support the Interact Club and their efforts.”
The ButterFive-K is a family-friendly event and runners, walkers, strollers and leashed pets are all welcome. There will be two events this year so that all can participate.
The main race is a competitive chip-timed 5K. Race participants will follow the track around the school’s side and around campus. Afterward, runners will follow the track to the ILHS stadium, the softball, baseball and soccer fields. Then runners will turn and run back to the pollination garden.
The event also offers a 1-mile race this year, called the Caterpillar Crawl, open to anyone who wants to come out and support the Interact Club, but jog or walk a much shorter course.
“The Caterpillar Crawl race makes it a family-friendly event,” said Albert Blackmon, IL Rotary Club’s corporate partnership and engagement director. “And parents are more likely to participate if the whole family can be involved.”
All race participants will receive T-shirts and commemorative medals.
The event will also include water, bananas, popcorn, cotton candy, and cornhole and other games to make it a fun experience for everyone who comes.
Only 20 runners entered last year’s race, but more than 100 runners have already registered for this year’s race.
The largest contributor to the increase in runners is APEX-PROMOZ, Blackmon said. The race is advertised on Facebook, participants’ social media, the APEX website, the Rotary Club website and other platforms, such as running shoe stores.
The race brings attention to the pollination garden and provides a community outlet, Blackmon said, as well as good publicity for Indian Land High.
Money collected from the race is donated to the Rotary Club for supplies to keep the garden fresh and lively, as well as support other club events, Blackmon said.
The race is great publicity for both Interact Club and the adult Rotary Club and encourages people to consider joining, Blackmon said.
Interact Club volunteers will help set up the race location at 6100 Charlotte Highway, Lancaster, for runners and sponsors.
Presenting sponsor is Founders Federal Credit Union. Swag sponsors are Comporium and MUSC Health. Medal sponsors are CrossRidge and York Technical College. Bib sponsor is Towne Tavern. Gold sponsors are Nutramax Laboratories, Land United FC and USCL. Silver sponsors are Duke Energy and Carla Endres All State. Bronze sponsors are Arden at Indian Land, Light Family Wellness, Guerrilla HR and The Snipes Team.
Race packet pickup is 4-6 p.m. Friday, April 12, at Towne Tavern, 9789 Charlotte Highway, Indian Land.
