The chilly morning on April 25th welcomed the annual “This Race is for the Birds!” held on the trails of the USFWS National Conservation Training Center. It was the most successful race to date thanks to the incredible support of the Community and the hard work of volunteers.

The race is held each spring to raise funds for the programs of the Potomac Valley Audubon Society, but also to promote the enjoyment of the natural world through outdoor recreational opportunities such as running and walking on trails. We can’t thank the USFWS National Conservation Training Center enough for hosting this event and allowing the runners and walkers to enjoy the course’s beautiful trails throughout the campus. This year the event included new trails to provide 15K and 8K routes in addition to the “traditional” 2mile run/walk and the children’s fun run. The two longer courses were professionally chip-timed by 5Runners Racing, allowing a smooth and positive finish line experience.

The reason the event was successful is fourfold: Volunteers + Sponsors + Partners + Runners! Over 60 volunteers helped with the race, $10,818 was provided in sponsorships (in-kind and cash), and partners such as Antietam Photographic Society, National Conservation Training Center, Freedom’s Run, Harper’s Ferry Half, VeterRun, and Shepherdstown Farmers Market, all provided invaluable services to make the run a fantastic experience for the runners but also a successful fundraiser. And on race day, in spite of the chilly morning, 400 participants from near and far walked and ran to support the cause.

We can’t thank our volunteers, sponsors, partners, and participants enough for all they did to make the race the success it was. Thanks to this magical combination, nearly $10,000 was raised for PVAS programs, and a fantastic outdoor experience in nature was enjoyed by 400 runners from near and far.

Many thanks to the community for making this year’s race such a positive experience both for the runners and for Potomac Valley Audubon.

Sincerely,

Kristin Alexander

PVAS Executive Director