Coach Rodney Blue Charitable Run

The Carl Sandburg College Foundation will host the inaugural Coach Rodney Blue Charitable Run at 8 a.m. Sept. 14 on the Galesburg campus to honor the late Chargers cross country coach and support his legacy for future cross country student-athletes at Sandburg.

Runners and walkers of all ages and skill levels are invited to register by Sept. 6 for this non-competitive event. Registration is $30 (free for Sandburg students) and includes a commemorative T-shirt. Money raised will go toward the Coach Rodney Blue Cross Country Team Fund.

An opening ceremony will take place at 8 a.m., and the 5K run/walk will start at 8:30 a.m. A 1K run/walk will begin at 8:35 a.m. The Sandburg Foundation will provide music and refreshments at the event.

Blue passed away in July at age 66 after leading Sandburg’s men’s and women’s cross country teams since 2015. He first joined as an assistant in 2011. Blue led the program to its most successful stretch ever, winning five Region 4 championships and sending a team or individual to the NJCAA national meet in each of the eight seasons it fielded a squad.

For those who don’t want to participate in the run/walk but would still like to support the Coach Rodney Blue Cross Country Team Fund, donations can be made through the Sandburg Foundation.

For more information, contact Eric Johnson, chief advancement officer for the Sandburg Foundation at ebjohnson@sandburg.edu.

REGISTER FOR THE COACH RODNEY BLUE CHARITABLE RUN: https://sandburg.jotform.com/242237684953062

DONATE TO THE COACH RODNEY BLUE CROSS COUNTRY TEAM FUND: https://www.givecampus.com/schools/CarlSandburgCollegeFoundation/coach-rodney-blue-cross-country-team-fund/?a=1