Southland Park to Continue MSCC Greyhound 5K Sponsorship

Southland Park Gaming and Racing has once again agreed to participate as the title sponsor for the Mid-South Community College Greyhound 5k Run/Walk.

The second annual fund-raising event will be held in West Memphis on Saturday, Oct. 5.

“Our goal is to build upon the phenomenal success of the 2012 race, and Southland Park Gaming and Racing has given us a great start,” said MSCC’s Todd Pendergrass who is serving as Race Coordinator. “We’re excited about the potential we have to make this a premier event in our region.”

Lenny’s Sub Shop of West Memphis has also rejoined the effort and will again serve as the food sponsor.

MSCC, in collaboration with Start 2 Finish Event Management of Memphis, will host the second annual event. The race is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m., but the festivities will continue throughout the day. Proceeds from the event will go toward MSCC’s Athletic Booster Club to fund basketball scholarships.

Online registration has begun at http://greyhound5k.racesonline.com/, and the first runner has already signed up to compete. The registration fee is $20 through Sunday, Sept. 29, and $25 thereafter.

The 3.1-mile walk-run, which drew 396 registrants from 34 cities and towns in Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee last year, will feature a new route in 2013 but will continue to start and finish on the beautiful MSCC campus. Pre- and post-race activities will center around the College’s $9 million Marion Berry Renewable Energy Center.

Start 2 Finish, one of the premier health-oriented event management companies in the region, will again manage and chip time the run. S2F will provide top-of-the-line technology including touch-screen kiosks so participants can look up their time at the end of the race, live video feed of the finish line activities, and flat-screen TV monitors scrolling up-to-the-minute race times to make the Greyhound 5k a first-rate event.

Children’s activities and a post-race celebration are also in the planning stages, as are random drawings for prizes. Pendergrass said a 400-meter “Pup Dash” for younger kids has been penciled into the schedule, and an inflatables playground is in the works as well.

Post-race events will include live music by the New Snearly Ranch Boys, food, and displays by local vendors who will feature products/services.

“Our goal is to make the Greyhound 5k a great event for the whole family, and we’re hoping to create a quality environment for everyone who participates,” Pendergrass said.

Area businesses interested in joining the effort have the opportunity to become sponsors at various investment levels.

Platinum Sponsorships, available for $3,000, entitle the purchaser to a logo on the back of official event T-shirts, on the finish line banner, and at a water station; recognition in all event promotional materials such as press releases, website, fliers, brochures, and posters; event-day recognition with logo on race signage and marketing materials in run/walk registration bags, and six free event registrations.

Gold Sponsors ($1,000) will have their names included on the back of the T-shirts; name and/or logo prominently displayed at a water station on signage (signage provided by sponsor); recognition in all event promotional materials such as news releases, website, fliers, brochures, and posters; race-day recognition with logo on signage and marketing materials in the run/walk registration bags, and four free event registrations.

Silver Sponsors ($500) will have their names on the T-shirts and will be recognized in promotional materials. They will also receive two free event registrations.

Additional ways to participate include donations of soft drinks, energy drinks, and prizes and/or gift certificates for drawings.

To become a Greyhound 5k sponsor, contact Patti Coleman, MSCC Director of Advancement, at (870) 733-6764 or pdcoleman@midsouthcc.edu/.

As many as 60 volunteers are also needed to help with the event.

For additional information about the Greyhound 5k, call Race Coordinator Todd Pendergrass at (870) 733-6880 or email him at dtpendergrass@midsouthcc.edu.