The “Shut Up and Run” 5k is organized every Thanksgiving by our own Sally Howes. The proceeds go to the St. Francis House
Five years ago, runner Sally Howes created a small three-mile race on Thanksgiving Day so people could feel a little less guilty for eating an extra slice of pie.
Her small endeavor has turned into a big annual event with roughly 200 people trekking through Treaty Park Thursday morning. The event also has become a fund raiser for the St. Francis House homeless shelter, and this year 16 extra families received a Thanksgiving dinner because of the race.
“It’s Thanksgiving, and I figure people are thankful for what they have and they want to give back,” Howes said.
About 100 runners entered the event last year, bringing in $3,000 in registration fees with nearly all of it given to the St. Francis House. Howes hoped to double that this year. The race’s registration fees ranged from $20 to $25 and, with local businesses sponsoring the event, nearly all profits go to the shelter.
Here’s the rest of the St. Augustine Record article
And there was a related article on the successful shoe drive on the same day.