Community homebuilder ends long-running event
Leadership of the Chattanooga Habitat for Humanity organization announced today that, due to a variety of reasons, they will no longer be staging their annual Mud Run event and fundraiser.
Dave Butler. Executive Director of Habitat for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga Area, stated in a press release, that costs, staff time, and impact on their overall program have increased while the benefit to their mission has decreased.
"Since its beginning, the Chattanooga Mud Run’s purpose has been to raise funds for the work of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga Area," he noted. "As we reviewed last August’s event, it became clear that a decision was in order."
Among the reasons given for the decision were a dramatic decrease in attendance, increased insurance costs, and ongoing challenges to return Greenway Farms to pre-race conditions. Butler explained that the benefit to their program was too small to justify the time, funds and energy needed to put on a quality event.
"We have made many friends and had many great times with the Chattanooga Mud Run over the years, and are sad to see it go, but as stewards of community resources, we must find more effective/ less cost intensive ways to support our mission," he explained. "On behalf of everyone at Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga Area, and especially the families served with support from the Mud Run, thank you to all of you who have supported this event as individuals, as part of a team, sponsors, volunteers, or on staff with Habitat."
And while the Chattanooga Mud Run is going away, they do hope the community will continue to help support their work in other ways, such as attending the 30th Anniversary Gala on April 8 for their 30th Anniversary Gala.
They also are asking on online donations to support the mission as well as inviting the public to shop a the ReStore on East 14th Street. The ReStore gives donated goods donated a second chance, while raising support for Habitat’s work.
And for companies that had sponsored Mud Run teams in the past, Butler suggest instead doing a Habitat Team Build Day or sponsoring a home? "Jobsites are a different sort of challenge, but are often pretty muddy, and require lots of team work," he noted.
For more information on how you can help, you can visit their website at www.habichatt.org, the ReStore website at www.chattanoogarestore.org, or to sponsor a home or build day call Dominique Brandt at (423) 756-0507 or email her at dbrandt@habichatt.org for more details.