Organizers Won't Change Name Of 'Run/Walk BOOM!!!' Event
HUNTINGTON WOODS (WWJ) - A 4th of July event in Huntington Woods will not be changing its name after all.
Officials say the "Run/Walk BOOM!!!" 5K walk and run will go on as planned under the same moniker on June 29.
After three people died and more than 250 were injured in the Boston Marathon bombings, some felt the event's name would be seen as being "inappropriate." A community survey, however, found that 63 percent of respondents didn't want to change the name, with many saying it was a "knee-jerk" reaction. Others said the name change would be "giving in to terrorists."
Committee member Alex Cooper told the Daily Tribune they will reevaluate the event's name next year to determine if any changes should be made.
"I certainly thought we had to change it but after reading all the comments I see a lot of people have a different take," Cooper said. "No matter what we do some people will be satisfied and some won't but the level of intensity from the people saying don't change it was a little stronger."
Event organizers said there will be two moments of silence at the start of the races to honor the Boston victims -- once at 8:30 a.m. and again at 9 a.m.
