Run Miles For Them

By: Adelayda Vail

The 24th annual 5K, A Step at a Time, benefiting the West Georgia Domestic Shelter for survivors, was held on February 22, 2026. The three mile race began Sunday afternoon at the Recreation Center in Carrollton, Georgia. Over a hundred runners, ranging from six to seventy-seven, participated while many additional supporters came from surrounding counties. The estimated totaled proceeds have not yet been released, according to the shelter. However, in past years these races have raised significant funds that help provide necessities for the victims. While the shelter receives occasional grants, annual donations like those from this event help to fill in the remaining gaps and ensure continued support.

 Since, most of these grants are put towards the shelter’s priorities such as public safety and immediate housing. Other expenses such as unrestricted funds often lack financial support. Events like the 5K help to raise funds and bring awareness to the shelter and its mission. It “helps bring awareness about who we are and what we do,” said Tracy McCarthy, a worker at the shelter. She explained that events like this encourage the community to support the shelter in anyway they can. When individuals in the community understand who, what, where, why, when, and how help is needed. They make it their mission to show up to provide as much support as possible. This is why events like the 5K always have a great turnout and the donations raise also help to organize other events to raise even more donations. Other events being held to support the shelter include a game night of Mahjong to raise even more donations and funds according to the shelter’s Facebook page.

While the primary goal of those who participate is to help the shelter, many have personal reasons for joining as well. Some do it for fun, others do it because they love helping, and some because they may know someone personally who is affected by this issue. Their emotions are seen as they stand at the start line waiting for that race to begin. Watching each participant stretch and prepare, ready to take that first step, shows their support for those that have spent their lives running. By taking just one day out of the year to participate, they help a year-round issue and show victims that they are not alone. However, organizing an event like this requires a lot of planning, and that is where other individuals step in to help.

While runners play one of the most important roles, by showing up, various sponsors make it their mission to ensure everything is set and ready to go. Some of these sponsors include Southwire, West Ga Electric, First Bank, Carroll EMC, Times Georgian, Sole Roots Running Co and many more. These sponsors help throughout the months leading up to the event as well as race day itself. They publish flyers in their businesses, provide funds for refreshments, T-shirts for runners and awards for winners. They contribute a major part to ensure the hosts have everything needed to make the event happen. Depending on how much each company, business, or individual contributes defines the level of acknowledgment they may receive bronze, silver, gold, or platinum. On race day some sponsors were able to show up to offer support on sidelines and even participate in the race. For those who could not show up they were still acknowledged on the back of every T-shirt handed to runners as there is a list of all sponsors who have contributed to this event. The race took about an hour from start to finish and had a great turnout. The race was separated into two groups of both males and females and within those groups they were categorized by age of 1-9,10-19,20-29,30-39,40-49,50-59,60-69,70-99. For each age group the top three to finish received a medal. Additionally, there were also other placements for male overall, female overall, male masters, and female masters.

Despite the weather being very windy and chilly, runners began at a slow pace, but then building up as they gradually could. At different paces, whether it was running the entire way, walking, or a combination of both, each person was able to complete the three miles starting from the Recreation Center, through the Carrollton Greenbelt and around Lake Carroll. The event was one of many that brought everyone together for a few hours to contribute their help to those who desperately need it. At the end of the day everyone left, with a smile on their faces and satisfaction that their support made a change.