ALEXANDRIA, VA – Tuesday afternoon (Oct. 11), RUN! GEEK! RUN! hosted a post-race celebration and pizza lunch in Old Town North and presented Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) of Northern Virginia with a check for $45K, the proceeds from the 2022 RUN! GEEK! RUN! 5K. Rita Foss, co-founder and advisor of Ironistic, the host of the race, shared her gratitude for the sponsors and volunteers, noting it wouldn’t be possible without their amazing support.
SCAN of Northern Virginia, the 2022 RUN! GEEK! RUN! beneficiary, is the only organization solely dedicated to preventing child abuse in the region. Child abuse is a devastating public health issue that is alive and well in our community. One in four children will experience abuse in their lifetime and five die per day as a result. Preventing child abuse leads to better medical and mental health outcomes and decreases the likelihood of criminal behavior, substance abuse, homelessness, and teenage pregnancy. SCAN spans the entire spectrum of abuse – preventing abuse from occurring through community awareness, supporting and coaching families most at-risk, and intervening after abuse has occurred to prevent further harm. SCAN has operated in Northern Virginia for over 30 years and has served thousands of children, families, and professionals.
The coveted RUN! GEEK! RUN! bobblehead trophies numbered 90 this year, with one going to each of the top three finishers in each age group. Although many were given out, they can only be won–not purchased. Chris Foster, co-founder and president of Ironistic, shared that when Foss heard a father wanted to buy one for his son, she quickly responded “Just run faster next year!”
RUN! GEEK! RUN! 5K benefits a different Alexandria-based nonprofit each year and its success is dependent upon its sponsors. A big thank-you to all who sponsored, donated, participated, and volunteered for the race, and to SCAN Nova for their remarkable contributions to our local youth and our community. For more information, visit rungeekrun.com.
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Proud to host/sponsor this event each and every year, even if I didn’t win a bobblehead this time around. Well done Run! Geek! Run!