FOCUSES SPOTLIGHT ON DISTRACTED DRIVING
Bel Air, Md., October 8, 2014 — The Sixth Annual Heather L. Hurd 5K Run and 1 Mile Fun Walk takes place at Harford Community College Saturday, November 8, at 9 a.m.
The race honors the memory of Heather L. Hurd, a history major at Harford Community College from 1999 to 2003, who was killed in 2008 by a distracted driver who was texting.
On-site race registration takes place in the Susquehanna Center auxiliary gymnasium from 8 to 8:45 a.m., with the race starting at 9 a.m. The race takes place on a USA Track and Field Certified Course.
Each pre-registered participant will receive a T-shirt, refreshments after the race, a commemorative ice scraper and two tickets to a Fighting Owls doubleheader basketball game against Tennessee’s Volunteer State Community College December 13 starting at noon. Awards will be presented based on age groups and final times.
Tracy Hart of 970 WAMD and KHZTV Network will serve as master of ceremonies, and the radio station will broadcast live from the race.
The Oriole Bird, Poe from the Ravens, Chick-fil-A cow and Harford Community College’s Screech will be on hand to greet participants.
Many activities will take place before and after the race. They include the Maryland State Police’s seat belt convincer, which will demonstrate the impact of an automobile crash and the importance of wearing a seat belt, and DUI goggles that will simulate the impairment and danger caused by drunk driving. Also on hand will be a texting-while-driving simulator that participants can use to experience how distracted driving impacts operation of an automobile. A tractor trailer will be on site so participants can see what a truck driver experiences while driving.
The registration fee for the race is $25 per person in advance (those signed up by noon on November 6) and $30 on race day. The cost is $15 for those under 18 years of age accompanied by a registered adult. Participants may pre-register for the race by visiting www.harford.edu/heather.
Packet pickup for pre-registered participants will be held on Friday, November 7, at Harford Community College’s Susquehanna Center auxiliary gymnasium from 5 to 8 p.m.
The walk/run was established by the Hurd Family and Harford Community College in 2009 to raise funds for the Harford Community College Remembrance Book Scholarship Fund and to raise awareness of traffic accidents, their consequences and what can be done to prevent them.
Over the past five years, $70,000 has been raised by the race for Remembrance Book Scholarships, and 240 scholarships have been presented to deserving HCC students. The goal this year is to raise $25,000 and to attract 600 runners and walkers. Last year a record 550 participants raised $23,000 for book scholarships.
For those unable to walk or run but who would like to participate, donations may be made to sponsor a participant running or walking in the race, or an outright donation may be made by visiting www.harford.edu/heather.
“For the past five years we have raised awareness about the dangers of distracted driving through a race named in memory of Heather,” said Russell Hurd, Heather’s father. “Last year we had our highest participation ever—550 runners and walkers—and we hope to increase those numbers this year. The race enables us to make people think twice about distracted driving and also provides deserving students with book scholarships at a place our Heather loved.”
The Platinum Sponsor of the race is Kent Schwab Allstate Agency. The Gold Sponsor is Bel Air Honda/Fiat of Fallston. Silver Sponsors include AAA Mid-Atlantic/Mid-Atlantic Foundation for Safety and Education, Blue Dot Services of Maryland, C & S Wholesale Grocers, Inc., CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Cowan Systems, LLC, Dixie Construction and Law Offices of Jason Turchin. Bronze Sponsors include B. Michael & Sons Business Trust, First Mariner Bank, JC Penney Company, Kollman & Saucier, P.A., Mars Super Markets, Inc., Next Generation Mechanic and Perluke Consulting Associates. Blue Ribbon Sponsors include Advanced Eye Care, APG Federal Credit Union, Beavers Auto Body Repair Center, B. K. Trucking Co., Inc., The Bike Shop of Bel Air, Boyle Buick GMC, Canby Motors Collision Repair, Conor Lynch Foundation, Cook Auto Aberdeen Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, SRT, Mazda, Pre-Owned, DJ’s Car Care, First Choice Automotive, Fork Auto Body, George’s Customs Towing, Michael A. Freedman P.A., Harford Bank, Harley-Davidson of Baltimore, Heritage Mazda of Bel Air, B. Tate Hibschman Memorial Book Scholarship, Holzhauser’s Auto Service, Klein’s ShopRite, Laurel Bush Family Dentistry, McComas Funeral Home, P.A., MediaWise, Inc., Pat’s Pizzeria, Al Peteraf Realtor RE/MAX Elite Realty, Plaza Ford, Premier Driving School, StopDistractions.org, Thompson Toyota Scion Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram and Wine World Beer and Spirits.
Harford Community College is located at 401 Thomas Run Road in Bel Air. For more information, visit www.harford.edu/heather or call 443-412-2449.
