Nebraska Strong Run raises money for state’s flood relief

There’s no doubt runners move fast, but that goes beyond the roads, too. Take, for example, the community of runners in Nebraska who organized the Nebraska Strong Run in less than a week, and raised more than $163,000 for flood relief in the state.

After a “bomb cyclone” devastated the Midwest and caused more than $1 billion of flood damage to homes, businesses, crops, roads, levees and other infrastructure, the Lincoln Track Club and Lincoln Running Company joined forces to organize the Nebraska Strong Run. Not only could local runners lace up and support the cause, but those from out of state could as well through a virtual option to donate miles.

One hundred percent of the proceeds from the event, which was held on March 24, were donated to the Nebraska Community Foundation’s Rebuild the Heartland Community Fund in partnership with the First National Bank of Omaha (FNBO).

“One of the missions of the Lincoln Track Club is to give back to the community,” Jennifer Snyder, a run organizer and media and public relations contact for the Lincoln Track Club, told Runner’s World. “Since several of those who run our events either come from towns affected by the floods or grew up in an area affected, this was a no-brainer.”

The initial goal was to raise $30,000, but once the Lincoln Track Club decided to match $30 entry fees for each runner, and FNBC matched all the runners and the Lincoln Track Club, the total quickly shot up.

“In less than 72 hours, we had over 1,100 people register to run with us or virtually, and collected $40,966 in registration fees, donations and raffle ticket sales,” Snyder said.

Glen Moss, the president of the Lincoln Track Club, emailed his team of runners following the event to thank them for their kind hearts.

“We were founded on the basis of making our community a better place by giving back,” he wrote. “This run was organized quickly and on the fly because we needed to respond to the needs of our community and state of Nebraska. I want to thank all of you for helping us make this run a huge success.”

Nebraska Strong, indeed.