SALISBURY - March 11 will mark the 6th anniversary of Tim Kennard's tragic passing. An avid runner, he died in 2004 at the age of 48 from renal cancer, leaving behind a son, who's now 13. On March 7, Kennard's family and friends, along with hundreds of runners, will take to the streets of Salisbury and Fruitland for the 7th annual Tim Kennard 10 Mile River Run and 5K Run/Walk.
As part of the weekend festivities, a family sports and fitness exposition was held at Salisbury University. Vendors were offering samples of products ranging from energy drinks to workout clothing. Kids were having fun on a moon bounce and maze, and those who were a little more daring tested their fortitude on the gym's rock wall. With childhood obesity an increasingly serious problem in America, one of Kennard's friends says the race is open to runners of all abilities.
"We all know about the problem with obesity, and, you know, I think, obviously you don't have to be an elite runner to participate in something like this," said race co-director Ken Gaudreau.
Anyone still interested in running can register between 6:30 and 8 a.m. on the day of the race. The races will start at 8:30, and the party and awards ceremony will begin around 9:30. Proceeds from the race will benefit pediatric cancer patients, children who've lost a relative to cancer, and less fortunate families and pets.