The Piedmont Triad Airport Authority has canceled the Run on the Runway that had been scheduled to take place 9 a.m. Saturday, March 28th. The 2020 Run on the Runway will not be rescheduled.
The Run on the Runway typically draws 1,400 to 1,500 people to the airport each spring for a 5K run, a 10K run, and an untimed Walk to Win Against Hunger. Runners are shuttled to the runway on buses that hold about 50 people.
“Gov. Roy Cooper has urged all North Carolinians to cancel or postpone events of more than 100 people in order to help contain the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19),” said Paul Mengert who chairs the Run on the Runway event and is a member of the Airport Authority Board. “In keeping with the Governor’s directive and because of our commitment to public safety, we have come to the difficult decision to cancel this popular event.”
The Run on the Runway, held annually at the airport since 2010, raises money for local food charities. The event has raised more than $100,000 each year that goes directly to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina, Greensboro Urban Ministry and Open Door Ministries of High Point.
The money from this year’s sponsorships and registrations that have already been collected will be donated to the food pantries, Mengert said.
“Now, more than ever, our beneficiaries will need this money to help families keep food on the table in households hardest hit by the impacts of this pandemic,” Mengert said.
The Airport Authority is grateful to the more than 60 corporate and small business sponsors who support this event each year, Mengert said. These donations are critical to sustaining the work of the food charities.
“We have had such enthusiastic support of this event from our sponsors and from the public, we are disappointed that we must cancel the run,” Mengert said. “We hope that everyone understands that even though the event has been canceled, the need remains.”
The Run on the Runway will provide refunds to those who ask for them. Anyone who would like to have their money refunded may do so by responding to a direct communication sponsors and runners will receive from the Run on the Runway.