The Durham Sports Commission Announces Virtual 5K Event and Branded Store
Inaugural Event Supports the One Team, One Durham Fund, and new Varsity Brands and BSN Sports Partnership
August 29, 2022 (DURHAM, N.C.) – The Durham Sports Commission (DSC) will host a Virtual 5K event on a prescribed course for runners and walkers through downtown Durham from September 17 to 24. A portion of the $15 registration fee will be donated to the DSC’s newly launched One Team, One Durham Fund (1T1D) that offsets the rising costs of youth sports. A new BSN Sports store featuring Virtual 5K gear is also now online, in time for those who register to receive their branded swag before the start of the event. Participants may run or walk the course as often as they would like during the weeklong window, offering those eager to set a personal best as many chances as they would like to record the lowest time.
“Creating another DSC owned and operated event to engage the Durham community was a part of our strategic blueprint,” said Marcus Manning, executive director of the DSC. “In collaboration with DSC Board member Umar Muhammad and Revo Race’s Dr. Mark Janas, we identified an opportunity to engage the community through a Virtual 5K that seamlessly and innovatively ties together a few of our new initiatives that potentially could generate positive social impact through sports.”
The Virtual 5K prescribed course starts at the iconic Durham Bulls Athletic Park, routes through the Morehead Hill neighborhood, and finishes on the American Tobacco Trail. A video of the course can be found here as a preview. One the DSC Virtual 5K registration fee is paid, participants may submit score(s) using the Submit Results button on the registration page by uploading a GPX file or manually entering the information. Teams are encouraged to run or walk the course together – as much as individuals are welcome to – with the ability to coordinate and submit team names. Those who register are expected to complete the course on their own, any time or date between September 17-24.
In May, the DSC first announced 1T1D, accruing funds that will allow for greater access to sports for Durham youth. To date, funds have been raised exclusively through individual, private donations. The Virtual 5K marks the first activation that engages the public while simultaneously supporting the cause. Participants can donate additional dollars directly through the Virtual 5K registration page or have friends and family donate to the One Team, One Durham Fund on their behalf. The Virtual 5K is also the first DSC owned-and-operated event since it became the first sports commission in the country to partner with BSN Sports, the nation’s largest direct marketer and distributor of sporting goods to the school and league markets. Like event registration, a portion of the Virtual 5K branded apparel will be allocated to support 1T1D. The Virtual 5K online store will be open through September 6 to ensure that all orders are placed in time for participants to receive their swag before the September 17 start date.
For more information about the Durham Sports Commission, 1T1D, and the Virtual 5K, please visit www.durhamncsports.com.
About Durham Sports Commission
The Durham Sports Commission (DSC) is a collaboration of the City of Durham, the County of Durham, the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce and Discover Durham. The DSC was established in 2016 as a 501(c)(3) with a mission to create economic and social impact by leading the community’s efforts to attract, support, and promote youth, amateur, collegiate, and professional sporting and recreational events and is operated by Discover Durham. The DSC provides leadership for sports-based initiatives and create positive economic impact and quality of life in Durham and the surrounding region. Be sure to follow the DSC on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to keep up with all sports-related news in Durham, NC, and other announcements.
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