Council has agreed to sponsor a 5-K, 10-K run in mid April which will pay tribute to the late Centre Police Chief Val Courtney.
Kurt Duryea, who has helped with the logistics of the Fall Festival Fun Run and many such events in the past, along with Eva Garner, owner/operator of Odyssey Fitness of Centre, shared some of the details during the Tuesday, Feb. 25 meeting of the council.
“Over time, we have had some informal dicusssions about the city of Centre hosting a 5K and it was to be done for several reasons,” said Duryea.
“First was to encourage healthy habits, to promote the city of Centre and Cherokee County, and to provide an economic boost to the city of Centre,” said Duryea. “And then, along the way, we also thought about and added, especially in talking with Eva, the opportunity to honor the former police chief, Val Courtney. At that point, the idea really began to gather some steam, so a few weeks ago Mayor Tony Wilkie, Eva and myself sat down and those goals were solidified. I am not looking to direct a race, but I am very happy to be a part of assisting just with the organizational standpoint of it.”
Duryea said they came up with a two-fold event, with a 5K scheduled for Saturday, April 19, at 8 a.m. and a 10K Chief’s Challenge which is a three-person event.
“Each person would be doing approximately two miles which is very manageable for most people to walk, run or jog,” said Duryea. “And in that chief’s challenge, your business, your school, civic organizations can have teams challenge another team and be part of that.
“Our finish point would be central. It would be at the Armory in Centre. What we talked about was making it a first class event, having a timing company come in. they would handle all your timing, including the start to the finish, when you come across the finish line.”
“We’ve got a great route laid out, starting at the armory, going into historic downtown Centre, a little bit of an uphill, then it comes back down fast and furious to the finish,” said Duryea.
Duryea said Daphane Rogers has offered to head up seeking sponsorships for the event to help with expenses.
“You are going to have to have a certain outlay of cash which takes care of your finances,” said Duryea. “And then you need sponsorships to take care of the other additional entry forms that come in. You are going to have some first time expenses to the race but you are going to need some sponsorships to take care of the rest of it.”
Garner and Cooper estimated the city would need some 200 participants, (approximately $3,500 at an entry fee of $25 per participant) to break even. They also noted that April 19 falls within a good time frame because there are no competing events in surrounding Anniston or Gadsden scheduled.
“With a great cause, I think we will draw the 200,” said Duryea.
Garner suggested that if the city generates additional funds from the event, possibly some or all of this money could go into a memorial scholarship in memory of Chief Courtney.
“Val was real big on professionalism and being educatied as far as wanting hi police officers to attending the police academy and Mayor Wilkie and I talked about doing a scholarship for someone who may be going into criminal justice or the police academy,” said Garner.
Garner said they would also like to do a memorial for Investigator Jeff Bryant who was killed in a tragic automobile accident this past December.
Events would also be held in the Centre City Park that day related to the event, they said.
“We want to do a large start and finish to encourage and be stratetically placed so that when you are running the 5K, 10K, you are encouraged, said Garner.
Based on their past experience with such races, Cooper and Duryea both doubt that the city will lose money from this event.
Council Member Marc Johnson suggested possibly including a silent auction to generate funds and even offered to help out financiall himself.
“This is how much I believe in Kurt,” said Johnson. “Whatever you (city) are short, I will make up the difference.”
“I think this is a great starting point,” said Johnson.
The council agreed to sponsor the event.
Council Member Derrick Wheelr suggested the council get together soon to determine how the city will handle hiring scorekeepers for the upcoming Dixie Youth season.
On another athletic matter, Council Member Johnson gave a positive report on the city’s inaugural basketball league this season.
“The basketball league has been a huge success this year,” said Johnson. “I think it has turned out really well. We have had so many compliments on it and right now we have a 10 and under girls team going to all stars, 12 and under girls team going to all stars, an 8 and under boys’ co-ed team going to all stars and a 10 and under boys going to all stars and a 12 and under team going to all starts to represent Centre. We have some some in Oneonta, Heflin and Piedmont.”
Johnson also mention that Oxford has expressed an interest in joining the city league with three teams per age group.