At the end of Saturday's Gulf Coast Relief 5K Run Walk, race organizers presented the Red Cross with a check for $114,000 — the result of a race organized in only two weeks. Pacers Running Store hosted the event with sponsors from the city of Alexandria, James Carville and Mary Matalin, Mizuno USA, Roll Call Newspaper and Great Harvest Bread Company of Alexandria.
More than 3,000 people signed up for the race. When the check was presented, Pacers owner Chris Farley addressed the crowd.
"My first vision for this race was that maybe 500 people would show up," said Farley. "So thank you guys. This is awesome."
Political consultant James Carville, an Alexandria resident who proposed the idea of putting together a race to Farley, also took an opportunity to thank those who participated in the race.
"We want to thank all of our neighbors in Alexandria," he said. "You are the ones who really deserve the thanks and appreciation."