“It’s about doing well, staying active — it’s just the thrill of doing it.” —Ben King, 16, from Alexandria
There were gray skies accompanying a Saturday morning full of rain, muddy terrain and a run down a 3.1-mile lane, but the spirits remained high for the coordinators and runners. The cause: The Phillips Programs for Children and Families hosted its first ever 5K to support one of their programs, Food for Thought.
Phillips is a non-profit organization that accommodates families and children with special challenges in a school setting, tailoring classrooms and facilities to fit individual student needs. There are 360 students who attend the four locations in Northern Virginia and in Maryland.
The Food for Thought program helps provide food for families below the poverty line.
According to Director of Development Debi Alexander from McLean, more than half of the Phillips students live below the poverty line.
“School lunch programs are provided by the Department of Agriculture,” Alexander said. “So, the fees we get from the government cover a bulk of our funding, but we still need to raise the $30,000 a year.”
The winner of the 5K was Dennis Billings, from Woodbridge, who finished the run in 23 minutes and 47 seconds. He received a first-place medal that was 3-D printed by some of the Phillips students, as well as $50 cash.
Ben King, 16, is a student from Alexandria within one of the Phillips facilities also ran in the 5K. He finished with the fourth-highest time among all male runners, clocking in at 30:15.
“I’ve been trying to be physical, be active,” Ben said. “It’s about doing well, staying active — it’s just the thrill of doing it.”
Abby Williams, who came up four hours from Huddleston, Va., placed first in the women’s division at 27:50. She said she decided to participate in the race while coming up to see her brother.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Williams said. “I really enjoy running, and it’s something I do every weekend. I’m trying to bring down my time and keep winning.”
One runner, Uma Marques from Leesburg, came to represent a family whose daughter recently died in a forest fire in India.
“She was someone who was interested in special education for children,” Marques said. “Her whole family is out at a 5K in India in order to thank Debi and Phillips for this honor.”
The next Phillips 5K will take place during the fall of 2019 at Accotink Park in Springfield.
“It’s just down the street from our school, so that’s why we’re moving it there,” Alexander said.