Warriors make it to Sulphur
May 9, 2018
What a wonderful year!
May 9, 2018
This weekend, locals will break a sweat, shake a leg and eat delicious Cajun meals – some of the best food around.
And it’s all for a good cause – securing the educational future of our children in the Houma-Thibodaux area.
The TFAE 5K Run for Excellence is set for its 18th run – the longest running Main Street event in the area.
Proceeds for the event benefit TFAE, which has been a God-sent to the local educational community at a time when funding is scarce. The non-profit works to support educational efforts in Terrebonne Parish and has awarded more than $1 million in grant dollars to Terrebonne public school teachers, who use the funds for supplies, resources for innovative projects and ideas, technology and more.
The race is set for Saturday in downtown Houma. Registration for runners begins at 3 p.m. and the Kids Fun Run is set for 5:30 p.m. The 5K walk/run is set for 6 p.m. and the Food Fest will be open from 6:30 p.m. – 10. Admission to the food fest is $25, but it’s all inclusive. Everything at the event is free – both food and drinks – once the $25 admission is paid.
Other information can be found at the race’s official website, www.runforexcellence.com.
“This is a great, family-friendly event that people really do love to come out and support,” said Katie Portier, the Executive Director for TFAE. “It also doesn’t hurt that we have the best after party in the area.”
This is an event that’s grown 10-fold since it first started almost two decades ago.
Portier said TFAE is preparing for 1,000 runners this weekend and 2,000 more who will attend the food fest.
Portier said one of the biggest selling points for the race is that there’s something for everyone at the event.
Of course, there’s the race, which will accommodate both serious runners and also casual strollers who want to walk the course to support local education.
Then, at the Food Festival, there will be eats from more than 40 food partners, who will serve up some of the best Louisiana cuisine anyone can find.
“My favorite part of any festival is always the food,” Portier said. “We have more than 40 food partners that are going to be serving delicious food. You can’t get this lineup anywhere else – jambalaya, white beans, pulled pork, brisket sliders, tortellini pasta salad, penne aurora, hamburgers, hot dogs, roast beef poboys, chicken wings and more. That’s just a small sample of what we will be serving.”
And once stuffed, there will be ample opportunities to shake a leg and send those calories away.
The event features live music by Category 6 – a group which plays lots of radio music, which will keep the crowd active and engaged.
There’s also going to be a Kid’s Corner with arts and crafts, projects, games and activities.
“There really is something for everyone to enjoy,” Portier said. “You can’t go wrong with live music, all-you-can-eat delicious food and all-you-can-drink margaritas and beer. Plus, just by showing up, you are supporting local education. It’s really just a win-win.”
This year’s race will also feature a special group of runners.
Ainsley’s Angels will participate in the 2018 run – something that Portier said has a lot of folks with TFAE excited.
Ainsley’s Angels allows disabled children and adults to participate in this race and others for free with the help of a buddy to push them through the race and get to the finish line.
Portier said having that group at the race will bring smiles to the faces of many – a great addition to an already loaded afternoon and night of fun.
“It’s wonderful to watch their faces as they cross the finish line,” Portier said.
And of course, it can’t be understated that this cause supports local education.
In addition to the $1 million in grant dollars, TFAE is the funding champion for our local Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which provides one age-appropriate book per month to registered children from birth until he/she turns five – mail to the child’s home at no cost to the family.
The program is highly successful locally and Portier said it’s one of the many ways that the non-profit has made a difference in the community.
“We currently have more than 2,800 children registered in the program receiving books and more than 4,200 have ‘graduated,’” Portier said. “To date, we have mailed more than 178,000 books directly to the hands of children to help them learn, read and become prepared for school.”
Registration for the race closed last week, but Portier said she encourages all to get out to downtown to pass a good time with friends, family, neighbors and community members alike.
“It’s really the community that has kept this event going,” Portier said.
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