The Inaugural Chick-fil-A Charity 5K Run/Walk carries a more philanthropic motive than just a race.
The Athens event will benefit the Jessica Elkins Meningitis Awareness Foundation, with 100 percent of the registration money going to the foundation.
The Athens event will benefit the Jessica Elkins Meningitis Awareness Foundation, with 100 percent of the registration money going to the foundation.
The Athens-Limestone Hospital Wellness Center is sponsoring the event.
Jessica Michelle Elkins was a healthy, ninth-grade cheerleader in Athens, her father wrote on his YouTube posting. On a Friday, Jessica started feeling sick at school. A doctor diagnosed her with flu.
The next morning, Jessica's condition had worsened, and her parents took her to Decatur General Hospital, where she was diagnosed with meningitis. Jessica was transported to Children's Hospital of Alabama in Birmingham. Jessica died of spinal meningitis in December 2007.
The Elkins family has kept her memory alive by spreading awareness of the aggressive disease.
The Chick-fil-A run will start at 8 a.m. April 10. The starting line will be on Washington Street at the Athens-Limestone Hospital Wellness Center. The run meanders through historic downtown Athens.
"The run is a great opportunity to call your family and friends to come to Athens and participate in such a worthy cause," tourism director Jeanette Dunnavant said.
Many awards will be presented, including free Chick-fil-A meals for a year to the top male and female winners.
Businesses supporting the event include Coca-Cola, Purity and Fleet Feet Sports.
Race application forms are available from Matthew S. Kyle at Chick-fil-A of Athens, 1291 U.S. 72 E. or at active.com.
For more information, call 233-8900 or visitchick-fil-a.com/athens-al.
The following is something that Jessica's father wrote:
Jessica was fine on Friday morning, and went to school ( 9Th grade ) and took a final exam. After the test she and my oldest daughters boyfriend went out to lunch. She did not even get to eat and she started filling sick. She came home and called us. Her Mom came home early, and took her to the doctor, where they said she had the FLU, and they sent her back home. Friday night she was still sick at her stomach, and felling real bad, but no temp. We called the doctor back, and said to cut off her liquids, because that was what was making her sick, and to let the flu run it's coarse. I got up with her several times in the night, checking on her. I left for work early Saturday morning. I was looking for a present she had ordered for her boyfriend, Fed-x was going to deliver it to the office. My wife called me at 9:30 AM and said that when she went to check on Jessica, she pulled back the sheets, and saw little drop spots all over her. I rushed home, and as soon as I got home we put her in the van, and headed to Decatur General Hospital. We called ahead to let the doctor know we were coming and to have the hospital have a room waiting on her. When we got to the hospital , they took us right on back to a room, and they hooked up an IV to give her fluids. When the doctor got there he examined her, and very quickly called me out, and said he thought she had meningitis, and that he had already contacted Children's Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama. They sent a helicopter to Decatur, and picked her up. When we got to Children's, we were met by the doctor there, and he said they were treating her for the worst meningitis, because she was so sick, they did not want to put her through the spinal tap, and if this was not worse case, it would not hurt her. The doctor there was very honest and told us, that this does kill children, but because we got her there so quickly, that would help. Each day we would hold on to any signs of improvement, and with each improvement, would be a set back. On Dec 26, 2007 we were in with her, and the nurse checked her eyes, and he ran and got the doctor. Soon after that, test were ran to only come back that she was brain dead , due to the swelling in her brain. They let all of her friends say good bye, and the family had there time, and her mother and I stayed with her, when they took her off the breathing machine. No parent should have to go through that. She was a healthy, young 9Th grade cheerleader, and she is my baby girl. She was going to get the meningitis shot in March, that's when her yearly check up was due. I'm not sure if the shot would have avoided this or not, but please check with your doctor, and see if the shot is for you child. I do not want anymore parents to have to go through what we have gone through. Christmas will never be the same for our family, or her friends. You can look Jessica story up on the computer, just google Jessica Elkins, she was loved by ALL !! I love you baby !!! Dad