MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A popular holiday-themed 5K is ready to be hosted this weekend by the West Virginia University Medicine Rosenbaum Family House.
The Run Santa Run 5k will take place at the Rosenbaum House parking lot starting at 8:30 a.m. with over 360 people scheduled to participate, another record high for the event. Rosenbaum House Public Relations Specialist Pam Shriver encourages runners, walkers, and festive families alike to dash, jog, or stroll on the WVU Medicine J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital’s campus in support of patients and families finding comfort and care at the Rosenbaum House.
“It’s a family-oriented event, and so far, with thanks to our sponsors and our donors, we’re at our best year ever as far as raising money,” said Shriver. “Yesterday I looked, and we have 345 people planning to show up, and we have a couple more days for registration.”
According to Shriver, the Run Santa Run 5K will take place around the WVU Medicine campus and will start right inside the parking lot of the Rosenbaum House. From there, they run around parts of the WVU campus before returning to the Rosenbaum House, where a food truck will serve food with an appearance from the WVU Mountaineer mascot. Hot chocolate will also be served throughout the event, and plenty of holiday photo opportunities will be available.
“We’re starting right at Rosenbaum Family House,” said Shriver. “We are directly across the street from WVU Hospital, but you’ll see all the big blow-up stuff for the run, it’s all right there, starting and ending right in our parking lot,” said Shriver.
Those who participate will have the choice to either run or walk the Run Santa Run 5K, with 5K awards given to the top three males and females. A Reindeer Run will be available for children ages one to 13, with a deejay scheduled to play holiday tunes at the start and finish line. Participants are also encouraged to dress up in holiday costumes, with volunteers from the Rosenbaum House expected to be in the festive spirit on Saturday.
“Our staff alone is always dressed up as something for the holidays, but we’ll have lots of elves, we’ll have snowmen, and we’ll have a little bit of everything out there,” said Shriver. “And people are really encouraged to dress up and just have fun with it.”
All proceeds from the Run Santa Run 5K will go directly towards supporting families that are using the Rosenbaum Family House for an extended stay as loved ones, more often than not children, go to WVU Medicine facilities for complex medical treatments. This includes room and lounge areas that try to bring the comforts of home to people who may be traveling as far as several states away so parents never have to leave their children’s side during the hardest moments of their lives. With the run also helping Mountain State residents who use the Rosenbaum House, Shriver hopes the Morgantown community can come out despite the projected colder temperatures.
“If you go to the Rosenbaum Family House Facebook page, and then you just click on Run Santa Run, and I believe it’s Run Santa Run Morgantown 5K,” said Shriver.