Thousands participate in 40th annual Fuzz Run

COVINGTON, Ga. – Saturday morning marked the Covington Police Division’s (CPD) fortieth annual Fuzz Run, a fundraiser for the Police Who Care (PWC) fund. Established in 1983, the one mile enjoyable run and 5K race has remained a staple in the neighborhood for the final 4 many years.

Amassing 2,364 runners and roughly 3,000 attendees general, CPD Lieutenant and Fuzz Run race director Allen Martin stated this yr’s Fuzz Run was marketed with its fortieth anniversary in thoughts to emphasise its significance.

“Primarily based by itself popularity, it simply will get larger every year as a result of folks know the place the cash goes,” Martin stated. “Individuals wish to be a part of it. They love seeing officers on the market taking part in volleyball or cornhole with the youngsters in uniform. It’s displaying off the human facet of what many individuals see on the information – [in] this point in time, law enforcement officials have been checked out in a special gentle – however then they see us on the market and it’s totally different. They perceive that we’re regular folks. I feel it’s simply the continuation of what we proceed to construct every year.”

Grayson Poynter, member of Eastside Excessive Faculty’s cross nation crew, received the race general for the second consecutive yr. Vanessa Dougherty got here in first place within the general feminine class.

For every general class, winners obtained a particular version trophy commemorating the fortieth Fuzz Run, etched with the quantity 40 and the CPD brand. Winners for every age group obtained placement medals.

Following the occasion, Fuzz Run individuals and attendees had been inspired to take a look at the post-race festivities at Legion Area. Distributors, dwell music, meals and youngsters’s actions had been provided. Moreover, runners had been gifted with extra swag, resembling towels and luggage, including to the celebration of the race’s fortieth anniversary.

Martin stated Fuzz Run planning begins every year in January to organize for the extremely anticipated occasion. With the CPD’s years of expertise in internet hosting the race, this yr’s Fuzz Run proceeded notably easily, in response to Martin.

“It went actually, rather well. That is the primary yr in plenty of years that I’ve not solely been the race director, however been a part of the Fuzz Run that it went off just about with out a hitch,” Martin stated. “Every thing went very, very clean. Our participation ranges had been nice. Sponsorship ranges had been nice. Every thing, logistically establishing for it. The day of, all the things simply went actually, rather well. Very excited and searching again on it, it was only a nice occasion for my part.”

As a runner himself, Martin personally seems to be ahead to the beginning gun to kick off the race – seeing the joy of over 2,000 folks surpassing the beginning line. With a “comparatively” straightforward course that’s “not too hilly,” Martin stated the Fuzz Run is useful for all individuals.

On the significance of the CPD persevering with the Fuzz Run custom, Martin famous the neighborhood service facet and function behind the occasion.

“It’s service to the neighborhood,” Martin stated. “I feel it’s the PWC and the place that cash goes inside our neighborhood and the fallen officers all throughout the state and fairly frankly, throughout the southeast – the fallen officers and their households and officers injured within the line of obligation as effectively. 

“Additionally to point out that humanitarian facet of law enforcement officials in our neighborhood outreach program of what we regularly try to do, whether or not or not it’s via the Fuzz Run or Store with a Cop or different issues like that. Exhibiting the softer facet of police work and our dedication to giving again to the neighborhood that serves us so effectively.”

For an in depth report on this yr’s Fuzz Run outcomes, go to https://covingtonfuzzrun.com/race-results.php.