HOULTON, Maine — The fifth running of the LP Miracle Mile road race will be held Friday, June 30. The race will once again help raise money for research and awareness for Pediatric Cancer and Diamond Blackfan Anemia.
“My reason for this event and inspiration was not only my own daughter’s fight with cancer but the thousands (12,500) of kids who are diagnosed yearly,” said Kirk Ward. “LP Miracle Mile will also benefit Diamond Blackfan Anemia, a rare blood disorder in which the bone marrow fails to make red blood cells.”
Makenna Ward, the daughter of Kirk and Amy Ward, was just 6-years-old when she died Dec. 29, 2013, after a lengthy battle with cancer.
Last year, 214 runners and walkers participated in the race. Over the past three years, more than 600 runners and walkers have helped raise more than $15,000 for the cause.
The race is a 1-mile, downhill event for runners and walkers of all abilities. Registration starts at 4 p.m. and goes to 5:30 p.m. The race begins promptly at 6 p.m. for runners and walkers. Event parking and registration has been made possible by Military Street Baptist Church, located at 307 Military St.
After the event, runners and walkers are invited to the Houlton Lodge of Elks where a reception and award ceremony will be held. Refreshments will be made available.
The race also will serve as the opening event of Houlton’s Midnight Madness festival, an annual gathering of local communities to kick off the Fourth of July celebration. Participants are invited to partake in all festivities after the LP Miracle Mile as the night would just be getting started.
Funds raised by the LP Miracle Mile will benefit two specific organizations: CureSearch, an organization dedicated to research and awareness of pediatric cancer; and the Diamond Blackfan Anemia Foundation, which provides similar research and awareness support.
Online registration is available at the group’s Facebook page “LP Miracle Mile.” Awards, as well as homemade goodies will go to the overall and first place finishers in women’s and men’s categories. T-shirts also will be given to the first 100 registrants.
“We are also happy to have Jonathan Kelley and Competitor Me, who will be our race day management team,” Kirk Ward said. “Along with state of the art race timing and registration, they provide a passion for county health and wellness, and share the same feelings to advocacy, of that LP Miracle Mile.”
