This Valentine’s Day, Plant City has a chance to show its love at a fundraising event organized by passionate students from Durant High School and other nearby schools.
Durant’s Future Business Leaders of America is hosting a 5K and family festival for March of Dimes, to benefit premature babies.
Community service is an important part of every FBLA chapter. Durant’s chapter has served March of Dimes long-term through an awareness event called Prematurity Week each fall.
“Durant FBLA supports the March of Dimes every year because of its strong commitment to growing families,” Kevin O’Hare, Durant FBLA’s spokesman, said.
FBLA also supports March of Dimes as a statewide level. This year each of Florida’s FBLA districts will hold a large fundraising event for the March of Dimes.
O’Hare is a state officer, and he agreed to organizer the event for Plant City’s district, with Durant as the host. All proceeds from the event will benefit the March of Dimes.
“The planning group … came up with a theme for the event, ’Baby Love,’ which would be focused around Valentine’s Day,” O’Hare said. “The date is intentional and symbolic, to show our support and love for premature babies and their families.”
Trophies will be awarded to the overall fastest male and female in the 5K. The top three male and female runners in each age group will receive a medal. All participants can help themselves to refreshments when they cross the finish line.
After the 5K will be the March for Babies, which is a free and easy walk around the track.
The morning will conclude with a family festival, with plenty of games for everyone, including corn hole, an egg toss and more. Each chapter in the district will provide a game.
“We give our members at Durant the opportunity to raise funds, which helps to teach so many different skills … but most importantly it teaches our members that life is not all about business and making profits, but the importance of giving back to a community,” O’Hare said.
To register for the 5K in advance, download the registration packet at durant.mysdhc.org/teacher/1291stafford/FBLA. Send it with payment to: Durant High School, 4748 Cougar Path, Plant City, FL, 33567, Attn: Dawnelle Stafford.
IF YOU GO
Location: Durant High School, 4748 Cougar Path, Plant City
Date: Saturday, Feb. 14
Schedule: 7:30 to 8:15 a.m., 5K check-in; 8:30 a.m., 5K start; 10 to 11 a.m., March for Babies track walk; 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., festival
Costs: $20 for 5K run. March for Babies is free. Prices for food and activities vary.
Contact Catherine Sinclair at csinclair@plantcityobserver.com.