Third Annual ‘Borodash’ Raises Money for Charity

By Korby Clements

Middle Stew Reporter

MURFREESBORO, Tenn.— Turkey hats, tutus, and reindeer ears adorned the more than 2,900 runners who woke up early Thanksgiving Day to participate in the third annual "Borodash" in Murfreesboro Tenn.

"Borodash" started three years ago as an idea race Director Staci McCreary had to help her missionary friends raise money. The money raised was used to help start an orphanage in Geita, Tanzania, called the Neema House to help children with AIDs. Neema House is not the only beneficiary of money raised from the race; Greenhouse Ministries also receives a donation from "Borodash" every year.

 “In 2011, we raised $57,000," said McCreary. "This year we had more participants but more expenses, and we’re hoping to raise $60,000 this year.”

The race has grown from 1,600 to 2,900 contestants in the past three years, and "Borodash" has also added a third charity. During the second year, "Borodash" decided to add a rotating spotlight charity that would change each year.  Interfaith Dental was chosen as the spotlight charity for the 2012 race.

The "Borodash" course, starting and ending on the Middle Tennessee State University campus, had participants running and walking through four miles of historical Murfreesboro. The course was designed to be both easy and interesting to appeal to its wide variety of participants ranging in age from 1 to 98. The route took runners through beautiful parts of Murfreesboro such as the square and Bell Street.

 MTSU Cross Country Runner Keith Davis finished the race in just 20 minutes and 36 seconds, claiming the winning time. Marge Fuller, from Rochester, N.Y., and perhaps the oldest participant at 81 years of age, completed the course in one hour and 15 minutes.

“I come down for Thanksgiving every year, and this year my granddaughters talked me into doing this race," said Fuller. "I walked the whole way, but I finished just the same.” 

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