2nd annual Coach Rodney Blue Charitable Run on Sept. 13

GALESBURG — The Sandburg Foundation will host the second annual Coach Rodney Blue Charitable Run at 8 a.m. Sept. 13 on the Galesburg campus to honor the late Chargers cross country coach and support his legacy for future cross country student-athletes at Sandburg.

 

Runners and walkers of all ages and skill levels are invited to register for this non-competitive event. Registration is $30 for ages 13 and over, $20 for ages 12 and under and free for current Sandburg students. On-site registration will also be available.

 

Money raised will go toward the Coach Rodney Blue Cross Country Team Fund. More than 150 runners and walkers participated in last year’s inaugural event, and the fund has raised over $12,000 to support the Sandburg cross country program and its student-athletes.

 

For those who don’t want to participate in the run/walk but would still like to support the Coach Rodney Blue Cross Country Team Fund, donations can be made through the Sandburg Foundation.

 

Opening ceremonies for this year’s run will take place at 8 a.m., and the 5K run/walk will start at 8:30 a.m. A 1K run/walk will begin at 8:35 a.m. The Sandburg Foundation will provide a light breakfast afterward.

 

Blue passed away in July 2024 at age 66 after joining the Chargers as an assistant in 2011 and leading the men’s and women’s cross country teams since 2015. Blue steered the program to its most successful stretch ever, winning five Region 4 championships and sending a team or individual to the NJCAA national meet in each of the eight seasons it fielded a squad during his tenure.

 

For more information, contact Eric Johnson, vice president of advancement, at ebjohnson@sandburg.edu or Autumn Scott, vice president of student development at anscott@sandburg.edu.