Community Corner

Lutherville Running Fest Raises Thousands for Kids With Cancer

About 450 runners spent their Saturday morning racing for the Cool Kids Campaign.

The Lutherville Running Festival raised more than $10,000 this weekend for children and families coping with cancer. 

More than 450 people ran Saturday in the third annual festival as the competed  in 5K and 10K races around Lutherville neighborhoods.

"We're easily over $12,000 and that's not including race-day sign-ups," Kristian Sekse, director of development for the Cool Kids Campaign, said.

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Watch the video to see footage from today's races.

The Cool Kids Campaign is a non-profit organization, which aims to better the lives of children afflicted with cancer.

Find out what's happening in Lutherville-Timoniumwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"Children really don't understand why they don't feel well. As adults, we understand what cancer is, but most of the time kids just don't understand it—nor do they care. They just want to be kids," Rob Belanger, chair and co-founder of Cool Kids, said. "When I see this sort of turnout for our runners it's a great feeling, man. It just tells me people care."

The money raised by the festival benefits children with care packages, financial aid for the families, and a newly constructed learning center where patients undergoing chemotherapy can receive tutoring in a sterile environment, according to festival co-organizer Nydia Peel.

Planning for next year's run will begin in the fall. Co-organizer Monica Enoch said next year they would focus on attracting more sponsors.

The festival has collected more than $30,000 since its inception in 2009.

Post your photos and videos from today's race by clicking the "upload photos and video" under the headline.

If you would like to donate to the Cool Kids Campaign (and are not much of a runner) click here.

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