Get Ready to Run this Weekend

CHARLESTON - The 2-year-old Avondale 5K is personal for Skipper Condon.

A local businessman who also holds a seat on the Disabilities Board of Charleston County, started the race in honor of his late brother Steve who was born diabled, and died of Lymphoma in 2007.

"I wanted to do a 5K in honor of him," Condon said. "I used to run a lot and there wasn't a 5K in West Ashley, I wanted something that started in Avondale because I have right there and the whole Avondale Business District has been supportive. The Charles Webb Center is just up the street, so having it there was just an ideal situation."

"It's West Ashley folks helping a West Ashley facility."

The Charles Webb Center is a daycare facility for children 6 weeks old to 10 years old with special needs, and provides a great service for working families with disabled children, Condon said.

Steve Condon attended the Crippled Children's Society when he was a child, Condon said. That organization eventually became the Charles Webb Center.

The proceeds from the $30 race registration and afterparty tickets ($35 if registering the day of the race) and the $20 afterparty only tickets will all go to the Charles Webb Center to help fund the programs they provide. The inaugural race last year netted $20,000 for the Center, and Condon hopes to meet or exceed that amount this year.

Online pre-registration has closed but participants can still sign up at Triangle before Saturday for the $30 price. Triangle is also hosting a pre-registration event 4 - 8 p.m. Firday night. The 5K also includes a silent auction component this year, and all the silent auction items will be on display during Firday's event.

Race registration/check-in will begin at 7:30 a.m. Saturday in the Triangle Char & Bar parking lot. The race starts at 8:30. Both runners and walkers can participate and both strollers and (leashed) dogs can get in on the action. There are even prizes for the first two canines to finish the course.

The afterparty begins at 9 a.m., DJ Dub 6 will actually start spinning before the race begins at 7:30 a.m. The afterparty tickets include food, beer and wine.