Smith’s party returns
Published 12:16 am Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Darleen Smith was honored last year by her favorite slogan: “Make your own party.”
This year, the party continues at the second-annual Darleen’s Flamingo 5K Run to be held Saturday in Belhaven.
Proceeds and donations from the event will benefit the Marion L. Shepard Cancer Foundation in Washington. The event honors Darleen Smith, who fought a courageous battle against breast cancer.
“Last year, 150 people completed the race,” said Nick Klapp, lead organizer and Smith’s son-in-law. “We are expecting to increase our participants to 200 this year. This event is a great opportunity for the Smithton community and surrounding areas to come together and show their support for the fight against breast cancer while honoring Darleen Smith.”
Klapp noted the event includes an awards ceremony. Bobby Lane with radio station V103.3 will serve as master of ceremonies for the event. Down East Entertainment, a mobile DJ service owned and operated by Butch Oliver, will provide music. Breakfast will be provided for participants and anyone who makes a donation to the cause.
The 5K-course is USATF-certified and on flat, paved terrain throughout the waterfront community of Smithton. Timing and scoring will be performed by Run the East, a professional race-timing and management company located in North Carolina.
The run will begin and end at Hubs Rec Road “T” intersection along the waterfront near Belhaven. Preregistration is $20 for adults and $15 for children 10 and under. Registration on race day is $25 a person. Participants who registered prior to today received free T-shirts. Extra T-shirts will be sold race day. Registration begins at 7 a.m. and ends at 8:45 a.m.