5K to raise money for Hampshire football uniforms

Hampshire will be embarking a new era in football. Not only will the Whip-Purs have a new football coach this fall, the players on the gridiron will be sporting new uniforms as well.

Mike Brasile was hired this spring to replace Dan Cavanaugh, who served as head coach for more than two decades.

The uniforms will be purchased with the help of the Hampshire High School Booster Club, which is hosting a 5K run onJuly 27 to raise the money.

Booster Club president Roger Larsen said the boosters rely heavily on concessions and the sale of spirit wear as their major source of revenue. He said Hampshire High School hosts numerous tournaments and other events such as a cheerleading competition.

Because buying uniforms for a football team is a bit more costly than buying uniforms for other teams, the boosters were looking at hosting a larger, fundraising event.

Larsen said many groups host golf outings or dinner dances, and the club wanted to do something that fit well with the club’s mission of supporting high school athletes. He said his wife and the vice president’s wife both are runners, so they encouraged the boosters to consider a 5K.

Larsen said the goal is to get at least 80 runners signed up for the July 27 5K run, which could become an annual event if the boosters get a good showing this year.

The course itself will be along the country roads around the school, starting and finishing in the high school parking lot, 1600 Big Timber Road.

After leaving the starting point, participants will head south on Ketchum Road to Kelley Road and west on Kelley to Widmayer Road, where they will head back north to the school.

Larsen said because the 5K run is in the morning on a Sunday, even if the participants walk the course, everyone should be finished in an hour and have the rest of the day to enjoy or participate in other activities.

The entry fee is $30 per person, which includes a T-shirt and refreshments after the event.

Water stations that likely will be staffed by members of the football team will be set up along the route.

People can pick up their race packet on the day of the race from 7:30 to 8:45 a.m. The run begins at 9 a.m.

The top three runners will receive awards.

Sign-ups are available at www.hhsboosterclub5K.com.

More information is available at www.hhsboosterclub5K.com or by contacting Roger Larsen at 847-845-3894 orhampshireboosterclub@gmail.com.