On Thursday, April 19, Waldorf College students will start running at the Iowa State Capitol Building in Des Moines and as long as there is daylight, they will continue running until they reach Waldorf in Forest City. The 144-mile, 50 Days of Service Relay Run will involve over 50 students, faculty and staff from Waldorf and will take place on April 19 and 20.

The send-off event for the relay will occur at 7:40 a.m. on the west mall of the Iowa State Capitol Building. The public is encouraged to attend. Sophia Magill, the Outreach Coordinator and Volunteer Liaison from the Iowa Governor’s Office, will speak about the importance of volunteerism among college students in Iowa. The run, which is the final service project for Waldorf’s 50 Days of Service, coincides with National Volunteer Week.

The route will take the relay-runners through Des Moines, Polk City, Sheldahl, Ames, Gilbert, Jewell, Clarion, Kanawha and a few other towns. On Thursday, the run will go until about 9:30 p.m. The run will resume early Friday morning around Clarion.

At 3:45 p.m. on April 20, in front of the Forest City Elementary School, the public is wel come to join with the final runner on her way to Waldorf’s campus. The run will finish at around 4:00 p.m. A celebration event for the run and the 50 Days of Service will occur in The Atrium on Waldorf’s campus. Organizers of the 50 Days of Service will speak about what has been ac complished and refreshments will be served.

The purpose of the relay run is to raise money for the 50 Days of Service charities. Money will be divided amongst Friends of Africa Education, a non-profit organization that provides educational opportunities to AIDS orphans, and school districts along the route so they can provide school supplies and clothing to needy children.

If you would like to donate, pledge cards can be picked up at the send-off or celebration events.

Timeline
April 19
7:40 am Send-Off Event State Capitol in Des Moines (west mall)
8:00 am Relay Begins Des Moines
9:30 pm Day One Concludes South of Clarion

April 20
5:30 am Day Two Begins South of Clarion
3:45 pm Community Run Front of Forest City Elementary
4:00 pm Celebration Event Waldorf College’s Atrium

To help us raise our $50,000, fill out a pledge card and send it to: Waldorf College, 106 South Sixth St., Forest City, Iowa, 50436.
Pledge Card (PDF)

Bob Smith, Tsitsy, Abby Baldus and Bridget Skarda hold the 50 Days Torch behind the Winnebago support vehicle.

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