Salon Hosting 5k Fundraiser to Help 'Share the Love'

A local salon that received a gift from their hair care supplier to help “share the love” is hoping to share it more than 10 times over and then donate that money to the Easter Seals of New Hampshire.

Renu Body Spa and Salon is coordinating its first-ever road race using $500 from Matrix Haircare, the supplier of the products they use in the salon.

The $500 was given to them to do with what they want, according to Renu's Spa Manager Tiffany Tamplin. They decided to use the money to try to raise even more money to donate to a worthy cause.

And thus was born Race to Renu – a 5k run/walk that will begin and end at the salon parking lot across from Shaw's on Daniel Webster Highway.

“From day one we've been working with the community,” Tamplin said. “We believe that as a business you get back what you give out.”

In order to make this race the success they hope it to be, Tamplin has been reaching out to local businesses and organizations hoping to find help in the way of sponsorships, raffle and silent auction prizes and volunteer helpers for the day of the race – April 14.

“We thought a race was a great way to get everyone involved,” Tamplin said.

And every dollar of their proceeds will be donated to the Easter Seals, an organization that helps children, adults and seniors with disabilities live independent lives.

Christine Pederson, director of events and corporate relations at Easter Seals said the organization is there to help the staff of Renu in any way they can, be it helping to spread the word or get volunteers to the event, but Renu is truly in charge.

The salon employees toured the Manchester home of Easter Seals on Monday morning to get a better sense of what it does for the residents of New Hampshire who use their services. Pederson said when groups like Renu come to them and with fundraisers like this, they leave it up to that group to decide if they want to target the money to one of the organization's 90 programs or if they want it to be unrestricted.

Renu chose to make it an unrestricted donation.

“That way, we can use it on a priority level for any one of our programs that are in need at a given time,” Pederson said.

While Easter Seals runs it's own fundraisers and giving programs throughout the year, they are always happy when a group comes to them to make a donation.

Tamplin said they would love to raise around $8,000 overall between the race the raffles and a silent auction.

“I think it's a realistic goal – that's my dream of dreams,” Tamplin said.

Race to Renu is open to runners and walkers of all ages and even if you don't want to do the race, a party in the parking lot at Renu from 9 a.m.-noon on April 14 is also open to others who want to swing by. The race starts at 9 a.m.

There will be a silent auction and raffle prizes to win. Already promised are prizes from Disney – a four-pack of Hopper passes – and a surprise gift from the Red Sox. A $40 lottery ticket tree is also on display at the salon where customers can donate $10 for a chance at winning all of the tickets on the tree.

Locally they've also received a hotel stay at Holiday Inn Express and foot reflexology gift certificates, according to their Race to Renu Facebook fan page.

They are hoping for at least 300 runners/walkers and have capped it at 375 at the advise of John Mortimer with Millennium Running who is handling the timing of the event.

“We want it to be well attended but we don't want it to get too big to handle,” Tamplin said.

The first 150 registrants will receive a free sports bottle from one of their sponsors and participants will have access to things like water, granola bars and the like at the end of the race.

Awards will be given to top finishers and there will be plenty of fun to be had.

Tamplin said at this point any way that people can help would be great – be it becoming a sponsor, volunteering to help out along the course, at the end of the race or at a water station, or simply donating items for the raffle and silent auction.

Tamplin said she and the rest of the women at at the salon would love to see this become an annual event.

“I think an event like this is a really great way to pull the community together,” Tamplin said.

To register for Race to Renu, go to millenniumreg.com. Anyone interested in learning more can email racetorenu@aol.com or visit Race to Renu on Facebook or the page on Renu Body Spa and Salon's website.