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The Blue Ridge Relay, 600 Runners Strong,
Teams Up with the Avon Foundation Need for Speed Campaign Against
Domestic Violence
The 208 mile Blue Ridge Relay, one of the longest relay races
in the United States, will take place in the picturesque Blue
Ridge and Black Mountains of Virginia and North Carolina on
Friday and Saturday, Sept. 7 and 8.
At almost a 5,000-foot elevation, the visitor’s center
at Grayson Highlands State Park, Grayson County, Va.,
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sets the stage for the scenic but challenging event. The course
will primarily follow scenic, country roads as it winds its
way through North Carolina’s High Country to the finish
in Asheville. The course features some of the region’s
most spectacular scenery, including the balds of Grayson Highlands
State Park, the New River, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Grandfather
Mountain (5,964’), and Mount Mitchell (6,684’), the
highest peak east of the Mississippi River.
Teams of six to 12 runners will rotate through 36 legs as they
cover the approximate 208-mile distance of the race. Each relay
team member will run three legs (12 runners) of varying lengths
and difficulty and will cover an average total distance of approximately
16.6 miles.
Since beginning in 2005, the Blue Ridge Relay has grown from
125 (10 teams of 6-12 runners) runners to more than 600 (49
teams of 6-12 runners) this year. The organizers of the Blue
Ridge Relay are excited about the uniqueness of their event
and the unbelievable growth, but are even more excited this
year to be one of almost a dozen running relays in the country
that are partnered with the Avon Foundation and its Need for
Speed Campaign Against Domestic Violence.
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As a Need for Speed fundraiser, the Blue Ridge Relay and its
runners have the opportunity to raise funds and awareness for
children who are victims or witnesses of domestic violence.
Runners are dedicating their participation in the Blue Ridge
Relay by raising funds for a domestic violence organization
in the western North Carolina community, and the finish line
of the Blue Ridge Relay will be the site of a grand cookout,
where proceeds will go to Helpmate Inc., the Asheville-based
domestic abuse shelter chosen by the Avon Foundation. To find
out more about the Avon Foundation “Need for Speed Campaign,”
visit www.needforspeedrelay.org/series on the Web.
The 2007 Blue Ridge Relay is sponsored by Hometrust Bank of
Asheville, Grayson Highlands State Park, Mellow Mushroom of
Asheville, SweeTea, Stickboy Bread Company, Hometown Realty,
Power Bar, Omega Tees, Ashe County Parks and Recreation, Road
ID, Ashe County Arts Council and the Appalachian State University
Health and Exercise Science Department. Event organizers offer
special thanks to Dan’l Boone Inn for supplying the Blue
Ridge Relay with items for the Avon Foundation fundraising cookout
at the finish line.
The directors of the Blue Ridge Relay, Ken and Kristin Sevensky,
along with the host sponsor, Gum Ridge Mill & Flying Pig
Furniture, said they are very proud to present an event that
showcases the hospitality of the area’s unique business
community, the beauty of the region, and the warmth of the residents,
while providing a challenging and rewarding running experience.
The Blue Ridge Relay will travel through or near Jefferson,
West Jefferson, Boone, Blowing Rock, Grandfather Mountain, Linville,
Newland, Spruce Pine, and Burnsville, on to its finish in Asheville
(an entire course map is available at www.BlueRidgeRelay.com).
The Blue Ridge Relay will take place on Sept. 7 and 8. For more
information, visit www.BlueRidgeRelay.com or call (336) 877-8888.
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