Holiday Run On Main Line Benefits Children In Need
By Tim Jimenez
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The Bryn Mawr Running Club held its annual Christmas/Holiday Prediction Run benefiting less fortunate children. It was a crisp Saturday morning and 80 members of the club participated.
"It's a five, eight, or 10-mile-run. The runners write down the time they think they're going to run," explained Tony Van Dyke, President of The Bryn Mawr Running Club. "They go run it and they hand in that piece of paper that they wrote on to the guy out front with a timer."
The runner who finished closest to the time they predicted ended up winning the event. However, the run was not just about who won.
"Anybody who wanted to run had to bring a new unused toy, unwrapped. All the toys went to 'Face to Face' at St. Vincent's Parish in Germantown," Van Dyke said.
'Face to Face' is a human services organization that offers after school programs for underprivileged children who Van Dyke says need some cheer during the holidays.
"You don't realize. These are the only toys these kids are going to get," he said.
It was a sentiment many of the runners shared.
"You hate to think that there's a bunch of little kids out there who don't have toys for the holidays. The economy's kind of tough and if you can afford to give one it seems like the right thing to do," said runner Brian Hirsch of Wynnewood.
"There's nothing like Christmas time toys for the kids," said Jim Corino of Wayne, who looked exhausted following his 10-mile-run. "And it puts a special smile on their face for sure."
